Posted on 05/20/2008 10:57:54 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
House passes bill to sue OPEC over oil prices Tue May 20, 2008 1:53pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude prices, but the White House threatened to veto the measure.
The bill would subject OPEC oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela, to the same antitrust laws that U.S. companies must follow.
The measure passed in a 324-84 vote, a big enough margin to override a presidential veto.
The legislation also creates a Justice Department task force to aggressively investigate gasoline price gouging and energy market manipulation.
"This bill guarantees that oil prices will reflect supply and demand economic rules -- instead of wildly speculative and perhaps illegal activities," said Democratic Rep. Steve Kagen of Wisconsin, who sponsored the legislation.
The White House opposed the bill, saying that targeting OPEC investment in the United States as a source for damage awards "would likely spur retaliatory action against American interests in those countries and lead to a reduction in oil available to U.S. refiners."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Actually Rep Kagan is a dermatologist! He is an embarassment to my state, but heck, I have Rep Sensenbrenner representing me. Another of our embarassments in Congress, Gwen (my son is a tire slasher) Moore, was on the news yesterday claiming that since Congress got the President to stop filling the Strtegic Petroleum Reserve, it would lower the price of gas a quarter or so. Today, oil at all time highs, and Gwen is out campaigning for Obama.
The problem is that it isn't an "act"!
This just proves that the RATS are the Lawyer Party! Don't fight...litigate!
Come on. This is a joke. Fess up.
No Sir!
Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008 (Introduced in House)
Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008 (Introduced in House)
HR 6074 IH
110th CONGRESS
2d Session H. R. 6074 To amend the Sherman Act to make oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal and for other purposes....
Why is it that whenever the Democrats have a strong grip on Congress, they go into their “Let’s be Stupid” mode? Are they trying to please Jimmy Carter with this?
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Sponsor: Rep. Steve Kagen [D-WI]show cosponsors (17)
Cosponsors [as of 2008-05-20]
Rep. Michael Arcuri [D-NY]
Rep. Bruce Braley [D-IA]
Rep. André Carson [D-IN]
Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]
Rep. John Hall [D-NY]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]
Rep. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
Rep. Paul Hodes [D-NH]
Rep. Henry Johnson [D-GA]
Rep. Jerry McNerney [D-CA]
Rep. Patrick Murphy [D-PA]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Rep. Betty Sutton [D-OH]
Rep. Niki Tsongas [D-MA]
Rep. Timothy Walz [D-MN]
Rep. Peter Welch [D-VT]
Rep. Charles Wilson [D-OH]
Cosponsorship information sometimes is out of date. Why?
Bill Text: Summaries (CRS)
Full Text
Status: Introduced May 15, 2008
Scheduled for Debate -
Voted on in House -
Voted on in Senate -
Signed by President -
This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Introduced bills go first to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills never make it out of committee. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned. [Last Updated: May 19, 2008]
Last Action: May 19, 2008: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Show All Related Votes
Other Titles: — No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2008
— NOPEC
Committee Assignments
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process where the bill is considered in committee and may undergo significant changes in markup sessions. The bill has been referred to the following committees:
House Judiciary
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Other Bills with the Same Title
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106th Congress: S. 2778Dead
106th Congress: H.R. 5241Dead
107th Congress: S. 665Dead
108th Congress: S. 2270Dead
108th Congress: H.R. 4106Dead
109th Congress: S. 555Dead
109th Congress: S. 2557: Oil and Gas Industry Antitrust ActDead
109th Congress: H.R. 695Dead
109th Congress: H.R. 5279Dead
110th Congress: S. 879Scheduled for Debate
110th Congress: H.R. 2264Passed House (Bipartisan support.)
110th Congress: H.R. 2950: Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy ActIntroduced
While I do sincerely sympathize, someone far wiser than I once said that politics is the art of the possible. People like Thad Cochran do not get elected in Maine, Olympia Snow does (for now). If we lose, we are facing a resurgence of the Fairness Doctrine, higher taxes, weaker military, liberal judicial appointments and continued idiocies like this suit against OPEC.
I love my country and I'll stay here and fight against the outrages that will come under this scenario, unlike those who swore that they would flee the country rather than Bush in 2006. The idea that we can return as a more conservative GOP in 2010 and 2012 sounds attractive, but we will be facing a much more hostile environment if our opponents have that much power to play with.
We have officially gone insane, as a country.
I seriously believe there will be a complete social collapse, within about 5-10 years.
I will donate to sue them under the 10th Amendment if we can get enough money.
I can’t believe I am reading this. What a disgrace - all these people must know better. It is the worst form of pandering. Shameful.
Meanwhile, most of these complete MORONS oppose the only real solution - expanding domestic exploration and refining. And that is just a matter of deregulation - a passive action which requires zero taxpayer funding. Gas prices are near $5 in some places while the worthless Congress (which apparently 16% of Americans still support) fiddles with worthless crap like suing oil producers. Stupid stupid stupid. And it is the majority of BOTH major parties.
Yep and they will repeat it.
And the other kicker is that even if they were to authorize ANWR drilling tomorrow, I think that I have read that it would be 5 to 10 years before production ramps to full.
I’ll join you. “Ooooh, way to go Congress, that’ll teach ‘em.” Geez, just imagine: U.S. sues OPEC and wins in Federal Court. Al-Jazeerah headline day after verdict: “OPEC to U.S.: Pound Sand and BTW, We’re Cutting Oil Exports to You by 90%”
Sure, they can try to sue OPEC (if that’s even possible under international law), but they won’t do the right thing and let our companies drill offshore or exploit oil shale. Let’s hear it for these first class MORONS!!!
I personally believe that our congressional decadence has reached a critical mass and will explode into a giant mushroom cloud of frivolity with a radioactive fallout of wastage.
carolyn
its obvious. we need a new govt and a new congress. these idiots are killing us.
That may be so in part, but they are the ones who actually vote on such arrogant nonsense. Therefore, the fault lies primarily with them.
The 545 People Responsible For All Of U.S. Woes
...to which I would add the Vice-President when he's breaking ties in the Senate.
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