Mr. Sleeze
Here's a terrific report from Truthout that looks inside the budget bill and describes what is, no doubt, just some of the devil in the details.
In this case, it's a change to the mining laws that would allow private developers to purchase public lands for private use. According to the article, this land grab (it would immediately put some 5.7 million acres with existing mining claims up for sale!) is the work of Rep. Richard Pombo, chairman of the House Resources Committee and handmaiden of the oil and gas industry.
Not surprising, Pombo received $24,159 from the mining industry, $33,750 from the timber and forestry products industry, and $43,000 from developers and the construction industry in 2004. (Center for Responsive Politics) This wasn't the first time Pombo sought to help private developers with public lands. He threw his support behind the logging industry's so-called Healthy Forest Initiative that opened 20 million acres of forest to logging while making it much harder for environmentalists to oppose logging. (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/3/04)
Mining and logging companies weren't the only companies at the door, Pombo has provided assistance to others in the energy sector. For instance, he took $13,000 from groups invested in the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration weeks before pushing the legislation to be included in the energy bill. (Tracy Press, 10/8/05)
In addition, after receiving $38,250 from the electric utilities industry in 2004, Pombo published a 33-page report supporting President Bush's plans to loosen mercury emissions rules allowing more mercury pollution into the air and water. (Center for Responsive Politics; House Resources Committee)
Finally, and we definitely saved the best for last, since 2003, Pombo has received $13,000 from Chevron. Chevron was the key competitor of a Chinese firm to purchase Unocal in mid-2005, and Pombo was a key ally of Chevron during the fight over who would purchase the oil and gas giant. Pombo let Chevron write a letter from him to Treasury Secretary John Snow in support of Chevron's bid and denouncing the Chinese attempted takeover. (Center for Responsive Politics; Energy Bulletin, 7/7/05; Roll Call, 6/29/05)
Nice piece thanks. Pombo is one of the energy industry puppets who tried (are trying, it isn't a done deal yet) to put ANWR drilling as well as drilling off many coasts in the U.S. in the budget bill, which thankfully 29 House Republicans rejected the budget bill because of the drilling provisions. It's important that people realize it isn't just ANWR they are after.
I think we should buy oil from Iraq. Or would that make too much sense? (I realize we buy it from OPEC but it would seem we could buy "extra" amounts of oil, equal to what they are after in drilling in the U.S., from Iraq, to help boost Iraq's economy.)
November 16, 2005 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
All Democrats, plus the following Republicans, rejected the budget bill last week. Hats off to the Republicans who didn't follow the special interest groupthink regarding drilling ANWR and our coastlines:
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="377" border="0"><tr height="17"><td width="231" height="17">Representative</td><td width="44">State</td><td width="103">Phone</td><td width="137">Address</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Christopher Shays</td><td>CT</td><td>(202) 225-5541</td><td>1126 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Rob Simmons</td><td>CT</td><td>(202) 225-2076</td><td>215 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Nancy Johnson</td><td>CT </td><td>(202) 225-4476</td><td>2409 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Michael N. Castle</td><td>DE</td><td>(202) 225-4165</td><td>1233 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Jim Leach</td><td>IA</td><td>(202) 225-6576</td><td>2186 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Mark Steven Kirk</td><td>IL</td><td>(202) 225-4835</td><td>1717 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Timothy V. Johnson</td><td>IL</td><td>(202) 225-2371</td><td>1229 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest</td><td>MD</td><td>(202) 225-5311</td><td>2245 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett</td><td>MD</td><td>(202) 225-2721</td><td>2412 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers</td><td>MI</td><td>(202) 225-3831</td><td>1714 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. John J.H. Schwarz</td><td>MI</td><td>(202) 225-6276</td><td>128 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Mark R Kennedy</td><td>MN</td><td>(202) 225-2331</td><td>1415 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Jim Ramstad</td><td>MN</td><td>(202) 225-2871</td><td>103 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Charles F. Bass</td><td>NH</td><td>(202) 225-5206</td><td>2421 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Joseph E. Bradley, III</td><td>NH</td><td>(202) 225-5456</td><td>1218 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. H. James Saxton</td><td>NJ</td><td>(202) 225-4765</td><td>2217 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Christopher H. Smith</td><td>NJ</td><td>(202) 225-3765</td><td>2373 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo</td><td>NJ</td><td>(202) 225-6572</td><td>225 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Michael Ferguson</td><td>NJ</td><td>(202) 225-5361</td><td>214 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen</td><td>NJ</td><td>(202) 225-5034</td><td>2442 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert</td><td>NY</td><td>(202) 225-3665</td><td>2246 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Sue W. Kelly</td><td>NY</td><td>(202) 225-5441</td><td>2182 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. James T. Walsh</td><td>NY</td><td>(202) 225-3701</td><td>2369 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick</td><td>PA</td><td>(202) 225-4276</td><td>1516 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. James W. Gerlach</td><td>PA</td><td>(202) 225-4315</td><td>308 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Bob Inglis</td><td>SC</td><td>(202) 225-6030</td><td>330 Cannon HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Tom Davis</td><td>VA</td><td>(202) 225-1492</td><td>2348 Rayburn HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. David George Reichert</td><td>WA</td><td>(202) 225-7761</td><td>1223 Longworth HOB</td></tr><tr height="17"><td height="17">Rep. Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr.</td><td>WI</td><td>(202) 225-5101</td><td>2449 Rayburn HOB</td></tr></table>
November 16, 2005 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
oops, copy/paste didn't work out, here's a copy/paste in text format:
Representative State Phone Address
Rep. Christopher Shays CT (202) 225-5541 1126 Longworth HOB
Rep. Rob Simmons CT (202) 225-2076 215 Cannon HOB
Rep. Nancy Johnson CT (202) 225-4476 2409 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Michael N. Castle DE (202) 225-4165 1233 Longworth HOB
Rep. Jim Leach IA (202) 225-6576 2186 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Mark Steven Kirk IL (202) 225-4835 1717 Longworth HOB
Rep. Timothy V. Johnson IL (202) 225-2371 1229 Longworth HOB
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest MD (202) 225-5311 2245 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett MD (202) 225-2721 2412 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers MI (202) 225-3831 1714 Longworth HOB
Rep. John J.H. Schwarz MI (202) 225-6276 128 Cannon HOB
Rep. Mark R Kennedy MN (202) 225-2331 1415 Longworth HOB
Rep. Jim Ramstad MN (202) 225-2871 103 Cannon HOB
Rep. Charles F. Bass NH (202) 225-5206 2421 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Joseph E. Bradley, III NH (202) 225-5456 1218 Longworth HOB
Rep. H. James Saxton NJ (202) 225-4765 2217 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Christopher H. Smith NJ (202) 225-3765 2373 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo NJ (202) 225-6572 225 Cannon HOB
Rep. Michael Ferguson NJ (202) 225-5361 214 Cannon HOB
Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen NJ (202) 225-5034 2442 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert NY (202) 225-3665 2246 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Sue W. Kelly NY (202) 225-5441 2182 Rayburn HOB
Rep. James T. Walsh NY (202) 225-3701 2369 Rayburn HOB
Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick PA (202) 225-4276 1516 Longworth HOB
Rep. James W. Gerlach PA (202) 225-4315 308 Cannon HOB
Rep. Bob Inglis SC (202) 225-6030 330 Cannon HOB
Rep. Tom Davis VA (202) 225-1492 2348 Rayburn HOB
Rep. David George Reichert WA (202) 225-7761 1223 Longworth HOB
Rep. Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. WI (202) 225-5101 2449 Rayburn HOB
November 16, 2005 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know there is not a one for one correspondence in the groups but I thought conservatives opposed the New London case of a taking of private property for New London's redevelopment? Where are these people complaining about taking public lands for private use?
November 16, 2005 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just want to say that he has also put forth other legislation of a similar nature...
He has a long history of doing this sort of crap and it always yields profit for industry AND his family+friends.
Does anyone remember the bill that I referenced here...
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/30/7347/55253
-Zen Blade
November 16, 2005 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just want to say that he has also put forth other legislation of a similar nature...
He has a long history of doing this sort of crap and it always yields profit for industry AND his family+friends.
Does anyone remember the bill that I referenced here...
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/30/7347/55253
damn the return to HTML format. Sorry about the double post!
-Zen Blade
November 16, 2005 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was just re-thinking about (OK I can be a little obsessive but that is probably the case for many of us) my above comment as to "why don't we just buy extra oil that we 'need' from Iraq", and I wonder if this might not be a good topic for an investigative reporter (with some time on his/her hands which is not my case) to delve into?
What is going on with Iraq's oil exports? Is there a connection between what could be going on with Iraq's exports, or lack thereof rather, and the American energy industry's thirst to put many new rigs in America?
Certainly it is a topic worth investigating, as if such corruption could be found (interfering with Iraq's exports, which interferes with Iraq's future at such a critical time when they need to fuel their economy with exports of oil), it would really be another nail in the coffin, if not a stake in the heart, of the GOP at this point in time.
November 16, 2005 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
This article mentions "terrorists" blowing up part of Iraq's oil infrastructure.
But who's to tell it was terrorists? The American oil industry has so much profit it could have it's own special forces and we'd never know it. Or mercenary guerrillas could be bought, either way.
Furthermore, might there be a weak protection of Iraq's oil infrastructure as an invisible way to encourage destruction of the infrastructure? How good of a job are we doing in guarding Iraq's oil infrastructure? And if a lousy job, why?
Sure it's a conspiracy theory. But not a far-fetched one, seeing what is trying to be rammed down America's throat with the drilling fine print in the budget bill at the moment in D.C.
The biggest problem to our gasoline prices is refinement of oil i believe though, not supply of oil. But disrupting the supply of oil might be a strategy used by the energy industry to try to get their way for building more rigs in America as well. I really am not expert at this but it is possible I would think.
I am guessing that the continued high gasoline prices even when refineries should be back online by now, is no coincidence regarding the drilling provisions in the budget bill (that hasn't passed as a result yet.) And maybe this is the story.
November 16, 2005 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think we should buy oil from Iraq.
Perhaps I am wrong, as I have often been, but I think crude oil is purchased from the producers by oil companies, not by the US as a country. That crude is then either sold, traded or transported to the oil company's refineries to be refined into gasoline, etc. Much of the oil that finally arrives at the refineries was purchased from other oil companies, not from the original producers. So, it would be very difficult for the federal government to purchase more oil from Iraq.
Back to Mr. Pombo: I'm not sure anyone has yet figured out why his voters continue to support him. His whole career appears to be in service of big corporations, with very scant attention being paid to actual voting constituents. I'm not sure that is the exception among Republican congressmen, but one can dream anyway.
November 16, 2005 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Back to Mr. Pombo: I'm not sure anyone has yet figured out why his voters continue to support him.
Pombo comes from a very conservative, rural district (with some high-income communities mixed in), and he's very good at exploiting local hot-button issues. He's very popular with the lobbyists and activists I know who are personally and professionally opposed to federal regulation of federal lands. (He's also in a safe seat because of Democratic gerrymandering, it should be pointed out. We have stranger-looking districts here in Texas, but not many.)
Every time I heard Billy "latta lines" Tauzin speak on telecom issues, I reached for my wallet. Pombo is even more of a hack than Tauzin was, but he's more dangerous. Tauzin was an old fashioned LA pol; Pombo's a CA true believer.
November 16, 2005 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's important that people realize it isn't just ANWR they are after.
Yes indeed. Extremely important, at least to anyone who believes in a government role in public service. And for now we have a government that does not believe in government, resisting the public service role of government for the sake of private interest. In an Ownership Society everything is for sale. Public lands, public education, public airwaves, public health. Even the military is increasingly dependent upon private security contractors like Blackwater, Custer Battles and CACI International.
November 17, 2005 8:16 AM | Reply | Permalink