Mary Landrieu, Mark Begich Defend Oil Companies Against Democrats

[Keith Bee]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- The Democratic attempt to take on the major oil companies is being challenged from within, with representatives of producing states rushing to the defense of the industry, complicating the plan to present a stark contrast between the two parties.

Democratic Sens. Mark Begich and Mary Landrieu, who represent Alaska and Louisiana, respectively, each took to the Senate floor Wednesday to decry their party's attempt to strip tax breaks from the top oil companies.

Landrieu bemoaned the "inherent unfairness" of closing the tax loophole, insisting that doing so "will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.”

Begich chided the party for putting message over substance. "It is a gimmick, a gimmick to get the next week of activity, and get some press out there,” he said. “Picking on one industry because it sounds good, rates good in the polls, gets you a couple of headlines is not what the American people want us to do here. If anything, they're getting fed up with that. … Let’s stop the headline-grabbing and get serious about the energy security."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/mary-landrieu-mark-begich-oil_n_860743.html

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Not a big fan of P.J. O'Rourke, but, when he chose Parliament of Whores for a book title, he knew what he was talking about.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Ugh

:banghead:

Nice try DINOs... but forget trying to latch this on the friggin' "reducing the gas prices" meme and try the "reducing the DEFICIT" reason that the two of you would supposedly desire!

[dsharp88]

2. It won't reduce gas prices, but will reduce the deficit. That's good enough for me.

[sarcasmo]

3. This fight will show what politicians big oil owns on both sides of the aisle.

[AlbertCat]

4. closing the tax loophole, insisting that doing so "will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.”

Yeah.... but it might put some money in the coffers of the USA... the USA, Mary.... remember that? It's in debt. It needs to not give money away to groups that don't need it.

OK, you've said your pandering peace to make your constituents (ha!) happy, so you think. Now shut up and get out of the way.

[TomCADem]

5. Okay, How Many Republicans Are Attacking Oil Companies?

I don't agree with them, but Bebich and Landrieu are from states that are heavily dependent on the oil industry. What is the breakdown on Republicans?