June 20: 350.org statement on the House energy bill and oil subsidies

 

June 20, 2012

350.org statement on the House energy bill and oil subsidies
 
WASHINGTON--The House opened debate this evening on the "Domestic Energy and Jobs Act," a combination of bills that would expand domestic oil drilling and prevent environmental regulations from going into effect. One Democratic amendment would end free drilling in the Gulf of Mexico by requiring oil companies to pay for their leases. May Boeve, executive director of 350.org, issued the following statement:
 
“This energy bill amounts to nothing more than a political stunt when what we need is leadership on climate change and the switch to clean energy. There is no way that a bill like this should pass the House, but as long as some of its members want to give away gifts to the oil industry, they ought to consider taking something back by eliminating special tax breaks.
 
“This summer and fall, members of Congress will have to face their constituents. If they include an amendment to eliminate some oil tax breaks, at least they can say they tried to do something right. And if they don't, they'll have to answer why they tried to open up even more areas for oil and gas development while letting these wasteful tax breaks continue.
 
"When Congress is ready to get serious about energy and climate change, they ought to consider picking up something like the Sanders-Ellison bill, which takes an axe to wasteful giveaways to the oil, gas, and coal industry. That could save up to $113 billion over 10 years.”
 
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CONTACT: Daniel Kessler, 350.org, 510.501.1779, dk@350.org
 
NOTES:
 
1. In recent months, over 1 million people have called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies. On Monday, 100,000 people tweeted with the hashtag #endfossilfuelsubsides. More information at endfossilfuelsubsidies.org.
 
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