While Gas Prices Rise, Bass Rewarded for Support of Big Oil

2/24/2012 — As gas prices rise here in New Hampshire, Congressman Bass continues to support taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies that are already making record profits.  Annie Kuster believes that it’s time to stop having New Hampshire taxpayers subsidize the already profitable oil industry while also paying painfully high prices at the pump. 

“While families are struggling on tight budgets, it’s getting harder to fill the gas tank and Congressman Bass is giving taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies that are already making record profits,” said Garrick Delzell, Annie Kuster’s Campaign Manager. “Families here in New Hampshire are already tightening their belts and the last thing they want is to continue giving billions of dollars in subsidies to oil companies. Congressman Bass not only continues to support the subsidies, he is getting rewarded for his support with campaign cash.”

Congressman Bass and his Washington Republican colleagues gave Big Oil another $50 billion in taxpayer subsidies, which keeps us dependent on Middle Eastern oil instead of looking for solutions to higher gas prices.

BACKGROUND

Congressman Bass Has Taken $142,660 From the Oil and Gas Industry. [OpenSecrets.org, accessed 2/21/12]

Congressman Bass Voted for the House Republican Budget that Continued Special Tax Breaks for Big Oil. On April 15, 2011, Congressman Bass and House Republicans voted for the budget plan authored by Rep. Paul Ryan. Robert Greenstein, President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities wrote that the Republican budget secured no deficit-reduction contribution at all from closing special interest tax breaks, such as breaks for big oil companies. [H Con Res 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/20/11]

Congressman Bass Prioritized Subsidies for Big Oil Over Education. On July 29, 2011, Congressman Bass and House Republicans voted against directing a bipartisan committee, tasked with finding $1.8 trillion in deficit reductions, to prioritize cutting subsidies for major oil and gas companies and corporate jets before cutting funding for education. [S 627, Vote #676, 7/29/11; Congressional Record, H5764, 7/29/11]

Congressman Bass Voted to Protect Taxpayer Subsidies for Big Oil. On May 5, 2011, Congressman Bass and House Republicans voted to bypass consideration of the Big Oil Welfare Repeal Act of 2011 (H.R. 1689), which would repeal key taxpayer-funded subsidies for oil and gas companies. [H Res 245, Vote #293, 5/5/11; The Hill, 5/4/11; CBS News, 5/4/11; Congressional Record, H3076, 5/5/11]