http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-kretzmann/fred-upton-big-oils-super_b_929297.html

Numerous recent polls reveal that the American people believe that Congress is more responsive to their campaign donors than their own constituents. In addition, Americans of all affiliations clearly favor ending oil industry handouts. The question is, whose side is Fred Upton on: the American people’s or Big Oil’s?

Rep. Upton is Big Oil’s biggest champion on the newly named Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction. All six Republicans on the Committee have consistently voted to preserve oil industry handouts.

Six months into his tenure as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Fred Upton has stopped even trying to hide his pro-Big-Oil agenda. Upton consistently sides with the oil and gas industry — and it’s clear why.

During his House career, Upton has received $281,350 in oil and gas industry campaign contributions and more than a third that total, $100,700, during the 2010 election cycle. The energy industry is opening their wallets for Upton — in the second quarter of 2011 alone, Upton raised $104,000 in campaign contributions from oil, gas and coal — and its not even an election year.

This may seem like a lot of money, until you consider the return on Big Oil’s investment. The oil industry has spent roughly $280,000 to back Upton and $4 billion is the low end of credible estimates of the value of their subsidies. Eliminating some of the zeroes, would you invest $2.80 to get $40,000 in return? Of course you would. Big Oil could spend a hundred or even a thousand times more on Fred Upton, and it would still be a great bargain for them.

Oil industry lobbyists have made keeping the corporate welfare a top priority. The American Petroleum Institute announced earlier this year that it would for the first time begin directly donating to candidates, adding to the more than $13.6 million the oil industry gave to current members of Congress during the last election cycle.

In July, Upton pushed legislation that would speed up the development of the Keystone XL pipeline through his committee. Common sense would make that a risky political decision, considering what Michiganites have endured since the Enbridge Energy oil spill into the Kalamazoo River that feeds Lake Michigan. But Upton has already shown his disregard for Michigan families by appearing in the front row of an API conference, just six months after the spill of a million gallons of oil into the river running right though his district.

In fact, since taking the chairmanship, Upton has been maneuvering to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Interior, blasting the standards and protections that keep American families safe from the reckless practices of Big Oil companies. And he’s not doing this on behalf of the working men and women of this district. A recent poll from the American Lung Association revealed 65 percent of Michigan and Ohio voters supported stricter EPA limits.

Big Oil is working hard to keep campaign checks flowing and the access they bring open and active. The 2010 increase in funds marked a dramatic shift in Upton’s politics. Unfortunately for regular families, that kind of access is limited if you can’t write a huge check.

So, Upton’s priorities continue to seemingly move away from protecting families and towards pushing the agenda of his financiers.

Is Fred Upton willing to act on behalf of Michigan families for a change? Or will he continue to be Big Oil’s champion? The answer will show us all who Fred Upton really listens to most.

Follow Stephen Kretzmann on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kretzmann

Special thanks to Richard Charter

http://ecopolitology.org/2011/08/12/12-green-groups-push-for-end-to-oil-industry-tax-breaks/
Published on Date August 12th, 2011 by ecopolitology

Oil companies are reaping massive profits and skirting taxes (with the help of fossil-fuel-friendly politicians) while the U.S. is in a debt crisis. Is that fair?

While the general public suffers through very difficult economic times and the threat of government shutdowns, the oil industry is reaping good profits, monumental profits. In the past decade, as the US has lost a tremendous number of jobs, the 5 biggest oil companies have brought in nearly $5 trillion in profits. With gas prices rising, Exxon and others have been bringing in more and more.

Well, on the one hand, you might just say: “Good for them, they’ve done well at exploiting the oil in our earth and satisfying a national addiction and have succeeded in a capitalistic world.” But there’s one rather important thing I haven’t mention yet…. These oil companies are reaping hefty rewards on the backs of the American people. They enjoy huge tax breaks while U.S. infrastructure is crumbling and Americans are out of jobs.

Of course, the public, getting word of this, has been pretty unsupportive. Why should companies making billions, or even trillions, not have to pay taxes? It’s a good question. While every poll I’ve seen on the matter has shown that the public doesn’t support these tax loopholes, though, Republicans in Congress (and even a few Democrats) have done everything they could to keep these loopholes in place… so, they still are.

Leading Environmental Organizations Call for an End to Oil & Gas Tax Breaks

12 leading green organizations, fed up with all of this in the midst of our debt crises, have sent an open letter to Congressional leaders Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, John A. Boehner, and Nancy Pelosi. The point of the letter is that while we dig ourselves out of the massive debt we’ve accumulated over the last decade or so, we should focus on cutting tax breaks that help companies which are increasing global warming, threatening numerous endangered plant species and animal species, and harming the American public. Here’s the intro:

As you begin work to set up the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction that will recommend further federal savings under the Budget Control Act of 2011, we are writing on behalf of our millions of members to emphasize that any deficit deal must represent a balanced approach that focuses both on cutting wasteful subsidies that harm the public interest and raising significant revenues. Any other approach is quite simply a decision to dismember vital programs that keep our air clean, our water safe to drink, and preserve our natural heritage.

One area where Congress should support reforms that would benefit the American people is by reducing environmentally destructive and economically distorting subsidies. These unnecessary subsidies, which are found both in spending programs and the tax code, harm public health and our natural resources while doling out hard-earned taxpayer dollars to mature industries that need no government assistance. There is no rationale for continuing these subsidies at a time when middle- and lower-income Americans are being asked to make sacrifices and when all federal spending is being subjected to deep cuts.

Well said. The whole letter is worth a read, and it does focus in on the oil and gas industry a bit, which it points out are receiving tax breaks likely to cost the American public $100 billion over the next ten years (if not cut).

It’s time these companies pay their fair share of the taxes and help the U.S. get back on its feet. I hope Congress will read this important letter and act appropriately.

Special thanks to Linkedin.com

Dear friends:

Please find below the text of a letter Sierra Club sent today to Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, expressing our concerns with the Gulf RESTORE bill. The current bill is missing several elements needed to ensure meaningful coastal restoration and recovery of the Gulf’s ecosystems and communities.

Sierra Club strongly supports the goal of the bill to distribute 80% of Clean Water Act (CWA) fines levied against BP to the five Gulf Coast states. We also want to make sure that the bill is strengthened to provide accountability and public trust; create mechanisms for public engagement; and ensure consistency and increase scrutiny of projects (especially those selected by the Governors of the Gulf coast states).

A copy of the full Gulf RESTORE bill is attached. Please contact me if you have any questions about the bill or Sierra Club’s position.

Frank

Frank Jackalone
Senior Organizing Manager/ FL & PR
Sierra Club
111 Second Avenue, Suite 1001
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

August 4, 2011

The Honorable Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
410 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510-6175

RE: Strengthening RESTORE Bill

Dear Chairman Boxer,

On behalf of our 1.2 million members nationwide, which includes more than 75,000 members across the five Gulf Coast states, we are writing to express our appreciation for your continued support on Gulf recovery issues, and to respectfully ask that you strengthen the current Gulf legislation being considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW).

Over the past sixteen months, the Sierra Club has worked alongside our members and allies to ensure that the effort to restore the Gulf of Mexico’s ecosystems, communities, and economies is driven from the ground up and guided by the principles of transparency, accountability, and independent science. The Sierra Club has advocated strongly for a public seat at the decision-making table, recognizing that widespread feelings of mistrust and lack of transparency continue to color restoration and slow recovery efforts.

We appreciate that the RESTORE the Gulf Coast bill currently under consideration by EPW would direct 80% of the anticipated Clean Water Act (CWA) fines levied against BP to the five Gulf Coast states. Indeed, this reflects Secretary Mabus’ and the National Oil Spill Commission’s recommendations as well as the repeated requests of countless NGOs and Gulf leaders, including the Sierra Club.

The Sierra Club, however, believes the current bill is missing several elements that would ensure meaningful coastal restoration and recovery of the Gulf’s ecosystems and communities. We respectfully request EPW add the following provisions to the bill to address these serious deficiencies.

Provide Accountability & Restore Public Trust

Concerns about the mismanagement of federal monies distributed during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina recovery process underscore the need for a transparent, accountable process to apply and distribute CWA funds by:

Creating a Science Advisory Committee comprised of independent scientists from around the Gulf Coast to provide input on restoration project selection, implementation, and monitoring processes.

Requiring an annual legislative audit by the Government Accounting Office or an independent auditor located outside the five Gulf states.

Ensuring the full application of the Administrative Procedures Act.

Create Mechanisms for Public Engagement

Ensure the full application of NEPA by requiring the Gulf states and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to establish formal public comment periods and holding public hearings during the development of the Comprehensive and State Plans as well as all proposed restoration projects and programs.

Create a permanent Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (RCAC) comprised of community leaders and stakeholders from the affected Gulf states to improve communications and provide long-term oversight of future oil industry actions.

Ensure Consistency and Increase Scrutiny of Projects

Ensure that all plans and projects developed and implemented under the statute are consistent with the goals and processes of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, and are approved by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

A Stop Gap/Do No Harm clause is necessary to ensure funds prioritize ecosystem restoration over economic development, such as: “Amounts provided under this bill may not be used for activities that destroy or degrade the health, diversity, or viability of natural coastal or marine ecosystems” and “No more than 10 percent of the funds received by a state in any fiscal year may be expended on projects that are primarily intended for economic development rather than restoration of the natural coastal or marine ecosystem” (Note: A definition of ‘economic development projects’ also is necessary).

Section 4 that deals with 30% Impact Formula Allocation with Oversight by the Council allows for the states to bring the Secretary of Treasury to Federal Court if the Council fails to act within sixty days or disapproves a project. This language is burdensome and creates a hostile atmosphere for decision-making.

Section 5 that identifies disciplines for grant monies annually awarded by the Gulf Coast Centers of Excellence includes, “Offshore energy development” and “Sustainable and resilient growth, economic and commercial development”. This language does not appear aligned with the principles of ecosystem restoration.

We appreciate your consideration of these issues and look forward to working with you to restore the Gulf and its communities. Thank you for considering this important request. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Jill Mastrototaro, Gulf Coast Protection Campaign Director, at jill.mastrototaro@sierraclub.org or (504) 861-4835.

Sincerely,

Debbie Sease
Sierra Club

Special thanks to Frank Jackalone

SkyTruth Alerts: Shell reported spilling nearly 5000 gallons of drilling mud into the Gulf on July 31:
http://alerts.skytruth.org/report?id=68c9de7b-cb72-3fd1-9f72-11b1f2edc64d

This is in very deep water (>7800′), the Perdido field in Alaminos Canyon Block 859 about 150 miles off the TX coast right near the EEZ boundary. Perdido is actually a cluster of separate fields that will all be jointly produced from a massive floating spar.

And yes, Perido does indeed mean “lost.” – John
—
John Amos – President, SkyTruth
John@skytruth.org
P.O. Box 3283
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3283
(o) 304.885.4581 (m) 304.260.8886
skype: skytruth.amos

________________

http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard_web+inc_seq=984448

NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER 1-800-424-8802
*** For Public Use ***
Information released to a third party shall comply with any
applicable federal and/or state Freedom of Information and Privacy Laws

Incident Report # 984448

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION
*Report taken at 18:02 on 31-JUL-11

Incident Type: VESSEL

Incident Cause: OPERATOR ERROR
Affected Area: GULF OF MEXICO

The incident was discovered on 31-JUL-11 at 15:30 local time.

Affected Medium: WATER GULF OF MEXICO

____________________________________________________________________________

SUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE PARTY

Organization: SHELL INTERNATIONAL

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70161

Type of Organization: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

____________________________________________________________________________

INCIDENT LOCATION

BLOCK 859 County: ALAMINOS CANYON AREA
State: TX

____________________________________________________________________________

RELEASED MATERIAL(S)

CHRIS Code: DRM Official Material Name: DRILLING MUD (LOW TOXICITY)

Also Known As:

Qty Released: 117 BARREL(S) Qty in Water: 117 BARREL(S)

____________________________________________________________________________

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

THE CALLER STATED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SYNTHETIC MUD WAS PUMPED OVERBOARD FROM A PERMITTED DISCHARGE POINT INSTEAD OF SEAWATER AFTER NOTICING A DISCREPANCY OF 117 BBLS OF MUD.

____________________________________________________________________________

INCIDENT DETAILS

Platform Rig Name:
Platform Letter:
Location Area ID:
Location Block ID:
OCSG Number:
OCSP Number:
State Lease Number:
Pier Dock Number:
Berth Slip Number:

—WATER INFORMATION—
Body of Water: GULF OF MEXICO
Tributary of:
Nearest River Mile Marker:
Water Supply Contaminated: NO

—VESSEL INFORMATION—
Name: NOBLE DANNY Number: Aground: NO
Flag:
Length: Breadth: Draught:
Type: DRILLING RIG
Hull Construction:
Fuel Capacity:
Fuel on Board:
Cargo Capacity:
Cargo on Board:

____________________________________________________________________________

DAMAGES

Fire Involved: NO Fire Extinguished: UNKNOWN

INJURIES:

NO

Hospitalized:

Empl/Crew:

Passenger:

FATALITIES:

NO

Empl/Crew:

Passenger:

Occupant:

EVACUATIONS:

NO

Who Evacuated:

Radius/Area:

Damages:

NO

Length of

Direction of

Closure Type

Description of Closure

Closure

Closure

Air:

N

Road:

N

Major Artery:

N

Waterway:

N

Track:

N

Passengers Transferred: NO

Environmental Impact: UNKNOWN

Media Interest: NONE Community Impact due to Material:

____________________________________________________________________________

REMEDIAL ACTIONS

SECURED DISCHARGE POINT.

Release Secured: YES
Release Rate:
Estimated Release Duration:

____________________________________________________________________________

WEATHER

Weather: CLEAR, ºF Wind speed: 11 KNTS

Wave Condition: 2 SLIGHT (1 – 3 FT)

____________________________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL AGENCIES NOTIFIED

Federal:

NONE

State/Local:

NONE

State/Local On Scene:

NONE

State Agency Number:

NONE

____________________________________________________________________________

NOTIFICATIONS BY NRC

CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPT (CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT)

31-JUL-11

18:13

VESSEL RESPONSE PLAN PROGRAM (CG-3PCV-1)

31-JUL-11

18:13

DHS NOC (NOC)

31-JUL-11

18:13

USCG ICC (ICC ONI)

31-JUL-11

18:13

CG INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE HQ (WFO)

31-JUL-11

18:13

DHS PROTECTIVE SECURITY ADVISOR (PSA DESK)

31-JUL-11

18:13

DHS TEXAS FUSION CENTER (INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS)

31-JUL-11

18:13

DOT CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)

31-JUL-11

18:13

JFO-LA (COMMAND CENTER)

31-JUL-11

18:13

NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COORD CTR (MAIN OFFICE)

31-JUL-11

18:13

NOAA RPTS FOR TX (MAIN OFFICE)

31-JUL-11

18:13

SECTOR CORPUS CHRISTI (COMMAND CENTER)

31-JUL-11

18:15

TEXAS STATE OPERATIONS CENTER (COMMAND CENTER)

31-JUL-11

18:13

____________________________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NONE.

___________________________________________________________________________

*** END INCIDENT REPORT #

984448

***
Special thanks to Richard Charter

Congress needs to end its dependence on all special interest money
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/174977-congress-needs-to-end-its-dependence-on-all-special-interest-money

Noticeably absent from this week’s debt ceiling deal between President Obama and Congressional Republicans were the billions in taxpayer subsidies Congress continues to dole out to Big Oil, despite overwhelming support among Americans to end these handouts and in the face of staggering oil company profits released last week. When it came to taking on Big Oil, Congress and the Obama administration blinked.

Cutting Medicare for low and middle-income seniors? On the table. Closing loopholes for profitable, multinational corporations? Not under discussion.
The world’s largest oil companies announced another round of billion dollar profits last week. BP made $5.6 billion. Shell got even more, with over $8 billion. And ExxonMobil’s profits were $10.7 billion – an astounding $117 million a day from April to June. Gas prices are still at record levels and everyday taxpayers are footing the bill for billions of dollars in wasteful subsidies these companies get every year. Big Oil is making big profits-and the American people are paying the price. In fact, we’re paying it twice – once when we fill up our tanks and once when we pay taxes.

And while the 12-member “Super Congress” that will be appointed as part of the deal would technically put cuts to these subsidies on the table, you can bet oil companies will harness their significant political clout to keep their free money. With just 12 members to focus on-instead of 535–that pressure might be even stronger.

Why do these oil companies have so much sway? Just follow the money. A recent report from Public Campaign Action Fund and the League of Conservation Voters found that 93.5 percent (159 of 170) of U.S. House members who received campaign contributions from the political action committees (PACs) of the largest oil companies in the first half of the year voted to maintain these wasteful subsidies. And the three top Republicans in the House – House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) – received a combined $96,000 in dirty energy money from these PACs in the first six months of the year alone.

In the 2010 cycle, oil and gas interests spent $22.3 million on campaign contributions to members of Congress, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In the first three months of 2011, the industry spent $39 million on 643 lobbyists, easily outnumbering the 535 representatives and senators we send to Washington to work for us.

Big Oil has been generous to members of Congress over the years, and in the pay to play ways of Washington, politicians avoid anything that disrupts or slows their steady fundraising stream. Recent votes and hearings in the House and Senate are a perfect example.

In May, just two days after voting to maintain the oil subsidies, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) held an “Oil & Gas Industry Breakfast” fundraiser. A day before the subsidies vote, BP’s political action committee delivered a $2,000 check to him.

The morning of the same vote, Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) held an “energy industry” breakfast fundraiser. The day before the vote and this fundraiser, he also got a $2,000 contribution from BP.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a public hearing on May 24th to lay blame on government regulations of energy production for distorting markets. On May 25th, Issa’s leadership PAC got $2,500 from the PAC of energy industry giant Koch Industries.

The list goes on. But you get the point. Members of Congress are serving two masters in Congress, their constituents and their dirty energy campaign donors. Too often, it’s the latter that wins out.

Congress needs to end its dependence on all special interest money, not just Big Oil’s money, by passing the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would allow members of Congress to run competitive campaigns for office by relying on people back home. With Fair Elections, members of Congress could vote based on what’s best for their country and constituents, not their campaign bank accounts.

But until then, though, Congress needs to get its priorities straight. Ending these wasteful subsidies should come before cutting Medicare or other programs that provide security for middle class families. A lot of people in Washington are talking about “shared sacrifice” to address our deficit. Any sane plan to rein in spending should include ending wasteful subsidies, but to do that, we may find out that we will need to rein in Big Oil’s political influence first.

Steve Kretzmann is the executive director of Oil Change International. David Donnelly is the national campaigns director for Public Campaign Action Fund. Both organizations are founding members of the Dirty Energy Money Campaign .

Special thanks to Richard Charter