7/29/2008 - Collins' Oil Company Votes Paid For By Mainers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008
CONTACT: REBECCA POLLARD, 772-4353
Democrats rebut Susan Collins' television ad 3 years after Cheney oil bill signed into law
(PORTLAND, MAINE) - Democratic activists waved signs in Bangor, Portland, Lewiston and Skowhegan today to spread the word about Susan Collins' consistently atrocious record in support of the same big oil companies who currently are ripping off Maine families.
Some activists donned wool winter hats-despite today's 83-degree temperatures-to symbolize how they'll be struggling to keep warm this winter because of record-high heating oil prices that Collins has rewarded with tax breaks.
They said Maine voters must be informed about her true voting record, which includes supporting the largest Big Oil tax giveaway in our nation's history exactly three years ago today. The demonstrations are particularly timely because of Collins' latest television ad, in which she tries to back away from that vote and her overall record on energy issues by claiming-extraordinarily-that she tried to end tax breaks for Big Oil.
"Susan Collins, Bush, Cheney, and the oilmen who fund their campaigns need to explain why oil prices have doubled in these last three years, why oil giant BP today announced record profits equaling more than $13 billion-up 56 percent from the same period last year-and why the people of Maine are going to have to choose between heating oil and food this winter," said Rebecca Pollard, communications director for the Maine Democratic Party.
"Collins must take responsibility for her oil company votes and how they have affected the people of Maine," she said.
In addition to her vote for the Cheney Oil Bill, Collins has taken $130,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry over the course of her career. She also has voted against efforts to curb speculation, which experts believe has driven up the cost of gas by as much as $1 per gallon. She has voted against a tax on the excess windfall profits being made by Big Oil off the backs of hard-working Mainers. And she's voted against tax incentives to encourage renewable energy.
Susan Collins' Voting Record:
Collins Voted For Bush-Cheney Energy Bill That Moved $14 Billion In Tax Breaks and Incentives To The Oil and Gas Industry. Collins voted the Bush-Cheney energy bill that moved $14 billion in tax breaks and incentives to the oil and gas industry during a time of record profits. The League of Conservation Voters called the Energy bill the "most anti-environment bill signed into law in recent memory." [Vote 212, 7/29/05; Vote 213, 7/29/05; LCV Scorecard 2005, www.lcv.org]
The Price of a Barrel of Oil Has More Than Doubled Since Collins Voted For The Bush-Cheney Energy Bill. The day the Bush-Cheney energy bill passed the Senate a barrel of oil had reached a record price of $61. Today the price of a barrel of oil is over $131 - more than double what it was when Collins voted for the 2005 energy bill. [CNN, 7/22/08]
Collins Has Taken Nearly $130,000 From The Oil and Gas Industry Over The Course of Her Career. During her time in the Senate, Collins has taken $129,943 from the oil and gas industry. Collins has received over $36,000 from the industry so far this election cycle. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed online 7/23/08; FEC, 7/16/08]
Collins Has Opposed Cracking Down On Energy Speculators That Are Driving Up The Cost of Fuel. In 2003, Collins voted against an amendment to regulate online trading of energy derivatives and impose stringent penalties for market manipulation. Consumer experts argue that speculation is driving up the current cost of fuel by as much as $1 a gallon or between $40-$60 for a barrel of oil. [S. 14, Vote #218, 6/11/03; CNN, 7/22/08]
Collins Opposed a Windfall Profits Tax on Oil Companies that Redirected Funds to Struggling American Consumers. In 2005, Collins voted against an amendment that would impose a temporary windfall profit tax on crude oil and rebate the tax collected back to the American consumer. [S. 2020, Vote 331, 11/17/05; Vote 341, 11/17/05]
Last Month Collins Voted Against Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Projects. In spite of our growing energy crisis, Collins broke with Senator Snowe and voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act that provided tax credits for alternative energy sources. The next week, Collins backtracked in an election year political maneuver and changed her vote on the bill. [H.R. 6049, Vote #147, 6/10/08]`The bill extends and modifies tax credits for wind and solar energy development and expansion, efforts to make residential properties more energy efficient, and an array of other renewable energy projects-from biomass to carbon sequestration.
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