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Gold9472
07-27-2005, 07:23 PM
Waxman letter: Repubs secretly added provision into energy bill

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Waxman_measure_unfairly_helps_Oil_Co_0727.html

7/27/2005

RAW STORY received today a letter from Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) to House Speaker Dennis Hastert today regarding a $1.5 billion provision benefiting oil and gas companies, Halliburton, and Sugar Land, Texas, that was inserted into the energy legislation after it had been closed to further amendment. Writes Waxman:

The provision at issue is a 30-page subtitle called "Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources."[1] This subtitle, which was taken from the House-passed energy bill, was mysteriously inserted in the final energy legislation after the legislation was closed to further amendment.

Obviously, it would be a serious abuse to secretly slip such a costly and controversial provision into the energy legislation.

Although the name of the subtitle refers to "ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas,"it appears that the $1.5 billion fund created by the subtitle can in fact be used for many oil and gas projects.

The text of the letter follows.

#

July 27, 2005

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H232 Capitol
Washington, DC 20515-6501

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am writing to draw to your attention a provision in the Energy Conference Report that raises serious procedural and substantive concerns. At its essence, this provision is a $1.5 billion giveaway to the oil industry, Halliburton, and Sugar Land, Texas. The provision was inserted into the energy legislation after the conference was closed, so members of the conference committee had no opportunity to consider or reject this measure. Before the final energy legislation is brought to the House floor, this provision should be deleted.

The provision at issue is a 30-page subtitle called "Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources."[1] This subtitle, which was taken from the House-passed energy bill, was mysteriously inserted in the final energy legislation after the legislation was closed to further amendment. The conferees were told that they would have the opportunity to consider and vote on the provisions in the conference report. But the subtitle was not included in the base text circulated to conferees, and it was never offered as an amendment.

Instead, the new subtitle first appeared in the text of the energy legislation only after Chairman Barton had gaveled the conference over. Obviously, it would be a serious abuse to secretly slip such a costly and controversial provision into the energy legislation.

On the merits, the subtitle is an indefensible giveaway to one of the most profitable industries in America. The provision establishes a $1.5 billion fund, up to $550 million of which would be dedicated direct spending, which is not subject to the normal congressional appropriations process. Although the name of the subtitle refers to "ultra-deepwater and unconventional natural gas," it appears that the $1.5 billion fund created by the subtitle can in fact be used for many oil and gas projects. According to the language of the subtitle, oil and gas companies can apply for funds for a wide variety of activities, including activities involving "innovative exploration and production techniques" or "enhanced recovery techniques."[2] While oil and gas companies could be required to contribute to the costs of their projects, the subtitle expressly provides that the Department has discretion to reduce or eliminate any such contribution.[3]

The subtitle appears to steer the administration of 75% of the $1.5 billion fund to a private consortium located in the district of Majority Leader Tom DeLay.[4] Ordinarily, a large fund like this would be administered directly by the government. The subtitle, however, directs the Department to "contract with a corporation that is constructed as a consortium."[5] The leading contender for this contract appears to be the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) consortium, housed in the Texas Energy Center in Sugar Land, Texas.[6] Halliburton is a member of RPSEA and sits on the board, as does Marathon Oil Company.[7] The subtitle provides that the consortium can keep up to 10% of the funds - in this case, over $100 million - in administrative expenses.[8]

The subtitle further provides that members of the consortium, such as Halliburton and Marathon Oil, can receive awards from the over $1 billion fund administered by the consortium.[9]

In short, the subtitle provides that taxpayers will hire a private consortium controlled by the oil and gas industry to hand out over $1 billion to oil and gas companies. There is no conceivable rationale for this extraordinary largess. The oil and gas industry is reporting record income and profits. According to one analyst, the net income of the top oil companies will total $230 billion in 2005.[10] If Congress has an extra $1.5 billion to give away, the money should be used to help families struggling to pay for soaring gasoline prices - not to further enrich oil and gas companies that are rolling in profits.

In recent years, Congress has been repeatedly embarrassed by the mysterious insertion of provisions in omnibus legislation. Last year, for example, we learned only after House action that the 3,000 page, $388 billion omnibus spending bill allowed members and staff of the Appropriations Committee to examine the tax returns of ordinary Americans.[11] We should not allow this to happen again. The Energy Conference Report should not be brought to the House floor until this objectionable provision is deleted and there is ample opportunity for members to read the legislation and delete any other problematic provisions.

Thank you for your attention to this problem.
Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman Ranking Minority Member

cc: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Gold9472
07-27-2005, 07:47 PM
This is just so fucked up.

911=inside job
07-28-2005, 05:06 PM
sure is but whats going to happen about it??? nothing thats what... just like the rest of the shit theyre doing...

krsjuan87
07-28-2005, 11:59 PM
fucking dirty lying bastards.....gold, i've been meaning to ask you what your personal feelings on the movie "in plane sight" are....send me a pm when you get a chance

somebigguy
07-29-2005, 03:55 PM
OMG, is this the most corrupt government in American history or what??? I guess when you own the media you can get away with this sort of thing.

somebigguy
07-29-2005, 03:57 PM
fucking dirty lying bastards.....gold, i've been meaning to ask you what your personal feelings on the movie "in plane sight" are....send me a pm when you get a chance
Hey, I can answer for Gold, he wants nothing to do with that movie. I on the other hand can look past its faults and see the good in the movie. If you see the Directors cut, they do a really good analysis of the collapses as well as do about 10 minutes of footage on the Oklahoma City bombing. If they would only drop their pod analysis, it would be a really good video. I've got the directors cut if you want it.

Gold9472
07-29-2005, 06:39 PM
Hey, I can answer for Gold, he wants nothing to do with that movie. I on the other hand can look past its faults and see the good in the movie. If you see the Directors cut, they do a really good analysis of the collapses as well as do about 10 minutes of footage on the Oklahoma City bombing. If they would only drop their pod analysis, it would be a really good video. I've got the directors cut if you want it.

Painful Deceptions is better.

somebigguy
07-29-2005, 06:49 PM
Painful Deceptions is better.
Yep, but IPS and especially Loose Change do AWESOME jobs of covering the demolitions.

Gold9472
07-29-2005, 08:07 PM
Yep, but IPS and especially Loose Change do AWESOME jobs of covering the demolitions.

You have to read Griffin's book. He'll explain it so simply it's not even funny.

Gold9472
12-02-2005, 10:25 PM
bump

Gold9472
02-18-2006, 03:55 PM
bump