I guess CITGO should have
contributed to Barton's campaign this year. Seems like the good will of Hugo Chavez and CITGO's CEO Felix Rodriguez to bring lower heating costs to the Northeast has touched a nerve with Joe Barton <strike>(R-ExxonMobil)</strike> (R-TX). Joe Barton has launched an investigation of CITGO and wants the company to answer a series of
questions pertaining to the program.
"In a Feb. 15 letter to Citgo, the Houston-based company owned by the Venezuelan government, Barton demanded that company officials produce by tomorrow all records, minutes, logs, e-mails and even desk calendars related to Citgo's novel program of supplying discounted heating oil to low-income communities in the United States."
This story was covered by many
columnists and
bloggers a few days ago, but I needed to say something....this is just too easy.
Stop the madness, someone....please!
Someone please explain this one to me. How is it that Texas based oil company
ExxonMobil posts RECORD profits for 2005, and cannot lower oil prices for the average consumer and Congress does NOTHING to intervene? But then somehow CITGO decides to lower home heating costs for the less fortunate in PA, DE, and NY residents through a pre-existing charitable program and then end up with a Congressional investigation against them?
Things that make you go hmmmm.
ExxonMobil and Chevron aren't being asked to produce their records for investigation, so why CITGO? I'll tell you why, it is because these other oil and gas companies are in Joe Barton's
pocket and reap their record setting profits because of his legislation and his lack of oversight into their operations.
Juan Gonzalez recently wrote in his column at the New York Daily News about Barton, saying:
"During the last election cycle, he was second only to fellow Texan Tom DeLay in the amount of oil industry contributions. During two decades in the House, Barton has raked in nearly $2 million in campaign donations from oil and electric companies."
CITGO is just doing what members of Congress and other oil and gas companies have been unable or unwilling to do...lower prices, yet still be productive within their industry. It is pathetic.
Just like
Katrina, the federal government saw it coming yet did nothing to prepare. And here we are again, the members of Congress saw winter approaching and prices sky rocketing at the pump in the latter part of 2005 , but did nothing to allieviate it. Now it's 2006 and we are investigating a company that is trying to help Americans in their time of need because they have embarrassed our government for doing the
unthinkable...
Discounting 1 million gallonsof oil by 40% and giving it to low-income families and homless shelters.
I urge each one of you to write a letter back to
Barton's Offices and
The Committee on Energy and Commerce members and demand an explanation of this action or call their offices one by one.
Here's how:
The Energy and Commerce Committee
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2927
Washington Office
2109 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2002
(202) 225-3052 fax
Arlington Office
6001 West I-20, Suite 200
Arlington, Texas 76017
(817) 543-1000
(817) 548-7029 fax
Ennis Office
2106 A W. Ennis Ave.
Ennis, Texas 75119
(817) 543-1000
(972) 875-1907 fax
Crockett Office
303 N. 6th St.
Crockett, TX 75835
(936) 544-8488
(877) 263-2833 Toll free from areas in the Sixth District
A parting word.....
How about using some of that investigative power for some good, Joe?
Some of his more recent conquests include investigations of: scientists for suggesting that Global Warming was real, The college football Bowl Championship Series rankings, and now this...what is with this guy? Who/What is next?
The Tooth Fairy? Maybe the Bermuda Triangle ? The Natalee Holloway disappearance? Michelle Kwan dropping out of the Olympics?
No wait, I got it...Stacy and Tony getting robbed of their chance to win Dancing With The Stars last night.