AUGUSTA, Maine — Another partisan debate erupted on the Maine Senate floor Thursday over a joint resolution submitted by Republican Leader Jonathan Courtney urging the president and Congress to support a controversial oil pipeline in the midwest.
The 17-15 vote to support the resolution was entirely along party lines and signified the third consecutive day that legislative Republicans and Democrats have bickered publicly.
Thursday’s discussion centered on a nonbinding resolution to support the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would bring Canadian oil into the U.S.
Republicans have said the pipeline would help lower the price of gas; Democrats, including President Barack Obama, disagree about the financial impact and have environmental concerns.
Courtney explained his reasons for bringing the resolution forward by reciting three numbers: $1.80, $3.80 and $5.
The first, he said, represents the price per gallon of gas when Obama took office; the second was what he paid when he filled up his vehicle this week; and the third is what experts believe could be the price of gas this summer.
“It’s time somebody stood up,” Courtney said Thursday.
Courtney’s numbers don’t tell the whole story. The price of gas under President George Bush eclipsed $4 in many states before dropping when Obama took office.
Sen. Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, called out the Republicans for using the resolution not to support domestic oil production but to criticize Obama.
Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, appeared to take a shot at Courtney, who is running for the U.S. House seat in Maine’s 1st Congressional District against Chellie Pingree.
“I’m running for the people of Maine. I’m not running for anything else,” Gerzofsky said.
The hourlong debate Thursday featured back-and-forth testimony from more than half of Maine’s 35 senators.
Sen. Ronald Collins, R-York, said the resolution was a no-brainer.
“Every time we buy oil from overseas we’re supporting terrorists who want to kill us,” he said. “We should tell the rest of the country that Maine is behind this.”
Sen. Phil Barlett, D-Gorham, said Maine has no business injecting itself into the national debate over the Keystone Pipeline. He also said the resolution sounded a lot like another resolution drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative policy group that, among other things, drafts model legislation for states.
“Who funds [ALEC]? Big Oil,” Bartlett said. “They want this [pipeline]. It’s good for their bottom line.
Sen. John Patrick, D-Oxford, said the resolution was clearly politically motivated.
Patrick’s comments were somewhat coincidental. On Wednesday, Republicans accused Democrats of playing politics with an order by Patrick that sought to have the Legislature examine whether Maine’s constitutional officers should run for federal office.
Thursday’s vote on the pipeline resolution drew a quick response from Environment Maine.
“Let’s be clear that TransCanada’s own analysis shows that the Keystone XL pipeline would likely increase gas prices for Americans,” the group’s director, Emily Figdor, said in a statement. “The only winner would be Big Oil, and so it’s no surprise that this resolution comes straight out of the playbook of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the D.C.-based corporate lobbying group funded by Big Oil.”
Follow BDN reporter Eric Russell on Twitter @BDNPolitics
Why do we give subsidies to Oil Companies that are gougeing us?
ANSW> Republicans
Why does the government tax us so much per gallon , then transfer money from general funds into where ever they want to spend it
I heard the other day that the U.S Gov. makes more $$ per gallon than anyone else in the chain, more than the “Big Oil” companies, more than the wholesalers and more than the retailers. Makes your head feel like it’s going to explode.
What you hear on FOX and reality are OFTEN two different things, but truth or not you can always count on GOP fools to repeat them here.
Sorry, But I am correct on this one. I’ll do this so even the Fool’s can do the math, you still with me?
Ok, let’s start simple, well just go with average Taxes on gas for now to make it easy.
The U.S average tax on Gas is 48 cents per gallon. (2011) That is more than 7 times the profit of Exxon/Mobil.
Remember, this is just the average gasoline taxes by state (combined local, state and federal) the High of 66.1 cents in California..
The industry average profit per gallon(Exxon/Mobil /Shell ect.) is 2-3 cents per gallon, Government 26.1-66.1 cents per gallon.
Anything else you would like to say to the class?
I’ll bet you didn’t include the nice federal oil subsidies into that calculation did you? Also, any so-called facts emanating from GOP websites is almost always a lie or misleading.
Hmm, You mean like the lib nonsense about “Oil subsidies” , Did you know that these “subsidies” are tax breaks that most all U.S Corp’s are afforded? The last lib talking point was that Exxon Mobile made $10.6 Billion in profit’s last Quarter, sounds scary , right? Hmm, they also paid over $8 Billion in Taxes that same quarter, over or 42% of income before taxes.There will be a test on this later, take lot’s of notes.
All taxpayers get deductions and credits. You can call them subsidies if you prefer. Still the amount of subsidies to the oil industry is ridiculous. Nobody pays $8 billion in income taxes on a profit of $10.6 Billion. You must be exaggerating again or Exxon is misleading us. I won’t be testing you on all your FOX so-called “facts”.
Sorry Charlie, you are wrong, these “subsidies” are just tax breaks offered to most if not all manufacturers .
-Domestic manufacturing tax deduction — $1.7 B. This is a tax deduction given to every manufacturer in the US. Per CNN, it was “designed to keep factories in the United States.” If that deduction were eliminated for oil companies only, it would mean singling out oil companies from all other manufacturers.
-Percentage depletion allowance — $1 B. Any industry can write down a portion of the cost of its capital equipment as part of the cost of doing business.
Right now, oil in the ground is treated as capital equipment. Again, this “subsidy” amounts to how the cost of doing business is defined.
All companies get it, not just oil companies.
Are you keeping up? Ok here we go again.
Foreign tax credit — $850 million. Companies get credit for taxes they pay to other countries.
All companies get this “subsidy,” not just oil companies. Should a company pay tax on tax? Should only oil companies pay tax on tax?
You still with me? You might want to add these up, gonna be a pop quiz in min.Intangible drilling costs — $780 million. According to CNN, “[a]ll industries get to write off the costs of doing business, but they must take it over the life of an investment. The oil industry gets to take the drilling credit in the first year.” Among these four tax “breaks,” this smallest one was the only one that treated oil companies differently.
The above tax “breaks” explain how much tax revenue is not collected from all oil companies. How much is collected?
Exxon/Mobil released its first quarter results for 2011. The number grabbing the headlines was Exxon’s profit: $10.65 billion in a single quarter. The number not given quite as much exposure was the taxes it paid in that same quarter: $8 billion, or 42% of income before taxes.
So, $4 Billion in Tax Breaks(Big Oil subsidies) for the industry.
$8 Billion Paid in Taxes in just one Quarter, just one Company.
Any more questions?
Why is it that your side doesn’t want to call their EXTRA SPECIAL TAX BREAKS a subsidy? What’s the difference. Big oil gas and coal are being given extra special tax breaks that noone else is. It’s time the GOP stopped with all their EXTRA SPECIAL treatment to rich corporations and rich people. They have stacked the deck against the middle class (30 years of class warfare through extra special tax breaks for the rich while the middle class gets none) and that needs to be reversed.
Let it sink in now, these items are what the Lib’s call Subsidies, that’s all of them involving any real of any amount of cash..Step away from the lib blog’s and MSNBC , if it’s still has more than 4 viewers, and think about this. We will call recess now and give you some time to digest this. I know it’s rough when all that you believe turns out to be fake,it’s ok.
We will start class again in the morning.
I can’t wait.
These are the only “subsidies” (really just Tax breaks, calling them subsidies is a joke) that “Big Oil receives. So not Taxing big oil any more ,or any less ,than any other industry is some how a subsidy .Only a lib can come up with logic like that.
Sorry to burst your bubble, better luck next time.
P.S If we could still give out grades in school, you would have received a D-. Those day’s are gone,wouldn’t want to damage your self esteem, so instead you get a PARTICIPATION AWARD.Congratulations Skippy.
Yes, you have bitten the lie, and swallowed it, there are no subsidies, just the tax “breaks” . Go look into it, try to find Billions of $ in Subsidies, I dare ya.
Anyone who has a problem calling extra special tax breaks a subsidy maybe shouldn’t act like such a knowitall, but I get it, your GOP playbook tells you NOT to call tax breaks for the rich subsidies, but they do want you to call medicare VOUCHERS….subsidies. Figures!
Nothing EXTRA or SPECIAL about them. Same as any manufacturer. I know it’s hard, but you will get it some day.
Hey knowitallknownothing Are the special depletion allowances for ONLY oil and gas companies available ALL manufacturers. NO. Is their special amortization rate for geological or geophysical expenditures available to all manufacturers? NO How about the special tertiary injectants deduction? NO How About their $3 per barrel production credit? NO Despite your limited knowledge, the oil gas and coal industries (I didn’t even mention all of big coal’s special tax bennies), do in fact have unique and Special tax breaks that are NOT available to others put in the IRS code by Republicans in Congress who are always looking out for rich special interests/bribers.
Do you even know what all of this info, fed to you by the Lib shepherds , is? Look them up, see what they are and get back to me if you really want to debate these, ok.
You look them up. I don’t see you refuting anything yet. Do you still believe ALL corporations have the SAME tax breaks? Do you still believe in Santa Claus? the Easter bunny? the tooth fairy?
Take your time deciding on this, It could get tricky for you using a 2 year old “article” from The Center for American Progress as your only reference.
You will find out the difference between regurgitating talking points and actual knowledge.
That post is a complete collection of ignorance and/or lies.
I’ll say it slow this time ,for you.
Same …Tax …..Deductions ….Every ….Other …Manufacturer ….Has ……Available…… To ….Them.
So when Lib’s say “end Big Oil Subsidies” That is code for Targeted Tax increases on Oil Companies.Raising taxes on someone, because you don’t like them. Making Taxes higher on Big Oil,for no reasons other than hate and greed. Punishing one group of taxpayers,who already pay an obscene amount of Taxes, because you can, for no other reason.
No special treatment, no extra special secret tax deals, Nada zip, zilch.
Sorry, the people you look up to have lied to you, again.
How foolish do you want taxpayers to be to give billions of dollars BIG SPECIAL tax breaks to an industry already making billions in profits off the backs of consumers????? Hypocrite GOP supporters talk small government except if it affects their pals and big campaign contributors/bribers.
Ever heard of roads and bridges or do you Republicans think those things magically appear and maintain themselves.
The average tax of gas in the U.S is 44.1 cents per gallon, more than the 2-3 cents per gallon the “big Oil” companies make, what was your point again?
ever do any research before opening your pie hole, the problem is that money for roads and bridges gets transfered to the general fund then handed out in welfare bucks. Ever wonder why when there is a big road or bridge project they always have to borrow and bond the money for the project. Slow your fingers down and let your brain catch up
yes but you asked what the taxes were for and it’s roads and bridges. Try to follow along before shooting your mouth off.
so apparently you dont have a problem with them taxing it, telling you the tax is for one thing and then using it for something else only a silly liberal would think that was ok
Why do we have hight prices, ANSW Democrats. No drill, no new refineries. no piplines
The Keystone oil will be sold to highest bidder and if the “American” oil companies don’t pay their price it will end up overseas…regardless of the Keystone oil, wall street controls the price of gas, not the government!!
Funny, we are producing more oil and importing less oil then we have in long time. Oil is also now our #1 or close to our top export. What we really should be looking at is nationalizing our oil fields and production. Getting it out of the hands of Corporations and having the USA take our our energy. That would lower it fairly quickly. In Venezuela they pay something like 78 cents a gallon because the state owns the production.
Wrong. Get educated on the subject will you please before shooting your mouth off. WE are producing more and using less than under Bush.The unchecked speculation in oil is the problem, which the GOP supports and won’t allow anything to disturb rich people’s wall street gambling.
Oil is an internationally traded commodity. There is no guarantee that oil produced in the US has to be sold in the US.
And the US Senate voted against ending subsidies for oil companies today. Guess who wants to keep the subsidies.
THE SCUM of the EARTH GOP.
This was just a side show and game for both sides. There are much more relevant issues being discussed and decided that could be reported. Once again, Russell takes the easy and quick non-story as opposed to actual journalism.
I hated it when Dems played “national and international politics” when THEY controlled the Legislature, and I hate it now when Republicans do it.
That said, you have your timeline WAY off, Eric…………oil spiked briefly under Bush then dropped way down again, long before Obama took office.
Nice try, though.
Um… how is oil that gets shipped elsewhere lower the costs of gas here? I could care less if they build the pipeline or not, but at least use a valid argument.
Maine’s tea party controlled republican senate has decided to chime in on a pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. I guess we will just have to wait until November 6th to find out how important the people of Maine view the Senate’s actions. Something tells me that after November 6th it will be easier to find a virgin in a brothel then it will be to find a Republican in Augusta.
I guess you agree with Obama, forget the oil. You must use Solar Heat.
Apparently guessing is a strong point for you. Keep it up someday you might get it right. Maine has plenty of problems that need solving, The Keystone Pipeline isn’t one of them.
Home heating fuel is one, the fact is all the President seems to be concerned with is other forms of energy. I guess we could put vast solar panels across the state, that would be as bad as windmills
The Fact is we will someday need another form of energy. Oil is not forever. We have to do something about it. More oil is not a solution, just a temp fix. Vast solar panels could actually do more for us in the long run then oil ever will.
True, but the fact is we need it now. But, the Obama Admin or any other administration not paying attention to the oil needs is a fools ploy. We need to look at alternatives and reduce our need for it, until then we still need fuel in Maine.
We are producing more oil now than in the last eight years. Demand is down, in part due to the warm winter. Yet gasoline and heating oil are approaching all time highs. So exactly how does allowing Canada to ship their oil through pipes built in India to refineries which ship to China and Europe help reduce the cost to Americans?
Bruce you obviously feel that the Maine Senate passing a resolve in favor of the Keystone Pipeline is a good idea. Perhaps you have better information on the pipeline then I have. Would you be kind enough to tell me, and I am sure others on this board would be interested in learning as well, what the benefits to Maine would be if the Keystone Pipeline were built as currently planned?
I am just saying in Maine and other Northern States that as of now oil is a necessity, not a luxary. As to whether the pipeline is or isn’t beneficial to Maine or other states is unknown.
Gosh Bruce an hour or so ago you were accusing me of agreeing with Obama whatever that meant and telling me I must use solar heat. You were a repository of smart mouthed answers. You seemed to be a wealth of information. However when pressed as to what exactly Keystone will do for Maine you seem to be fresh out of answers.
How could one really know, till it happens. I am well aware that most oil gets shipped overseas, maybe this could take some pressure off other earas.
Tell me Bruce in your great wisdom, is oil more a necessity than healthcare?
yes it is because high oil prices spike prices of all products and services. Why dont you stop typing so many lies and go back into your dark room and worship your Obama statue
Only a GOP fool would say such a thing. EVERYONE needs healthcare, but not everyone needs oil, most but not all. You guys need to stop lying and misrepresenting EVERY SINGLE DAY and stay in your rooms with your BUSH bongs.
Wasn’t it Clinton that said he did not enhale?
I guess you would have to ask those who have to get 50 gallons at a time if they can afford it? Or those who run out and their pipes freeze. I never said healthcare was not a necessity, nor more than food that continues to rise because oil prices continue to climb.
You don’t drive alot or heat your home with oil I guess?For some of us, the price of fuel is way, way up on the list of important issues that we face.
So Rocky perhaps you have better information concerning the pipeline then I do. Perhaps you could tell us how Maine will benefit if it is built as currently planned.
I sure hope so. The GOP has done more harm to America since 911 than 911.
A totally unnecessary display of partisan politics by Republicans, forcing Mainers to debate yet another issue, when we already have enough to deal with here.
Where in heck are they finding the time to work on issues in the Midwest, when Maine is desperately in need of a unified legislature passing compromise-rich laws to at least get things going, get things done.
I guess some simple questions that the American Public should ask, is, which would be more beneficial to the U.S. ………………. have the pipeline go West and ship to China and we continue purchasing oil overseas OR we let the pipeline be built, with the stipulation that the U.S. gets first usage, reducing the need for overseas purchases.
Or is this just simply too simple?
Your stipulation actually has already been brought up. There was an amendment to force at least a portion of the Oil would stay in the USA. Senator Tester introduced it, but it was rejected.
Thank you for the information.
stop your common sense will only confuse them
Please show us where it says the US gets first usage.
Excuse me??? According to this article, the price of gas was $4 a gallon when obama took office and dropped after he took office. That is a blatant LIE!!!! Who is the BDN trying to decieve here???
It was $4.10 a gallon under Bush the summer before the 2008 election. After Bush tanked the economy people used less gas and prices dropped. Now the economy is improving, prices are almost back to what they were under Bush.
“. Now the economy is improving” Really? That’s fumy.
To the blind, foolish or radical staunch Republican 2.6 million new jobs created, 20+ straight months of job growth, a 4000+ point increase in the stock market, consumer confidence increases, the unemployment rate going down, etc don’t amount to anything. You forget that our economy was hemorrhaging and was losing 700,000 jobs per month when Bush left office. To the less ignorant, they know that things are starting to improve despite the GOP’s obstacles and filibusters to every job bill put forth by the Dems. I know you guys don’t want the economy to improve until after the election, but despite your obstructive efforts, we are starting to recover from the mess that Bush and the people who foolishly voted for him created.
Any time there are interest in saving the American tax payer money the flying libs it is a political ploy.
The Energy department initiated by Jimmy Carter spending billions is a great example of getting zippo from the dem!!