Democrats See Opportunities To Act as Prices Rise, War Rages On
Democrats See Opportunities To Act as Prices Rise, War Rages On
Americans offer conflicting views in public opinion data
Rather than simply bemoan rising fuel prices — or even merely point fingers at Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the pain Americans are feeling at the gasoline pump — at least some Democrats are looking to make pro-active use of the current inflationary environment.
US consumers have already been paying high prices for a gallon of fuel for their cars, inflationary pressure which is only expected to rise as President Biden's decision to cut off supplies of Russian energy over Putin's lawless incursion into Ukraine also begins to make its effects felt, as well.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, of Rhode Island, and Rep Ro Khanna, of California, have teamed up to do something about it.
A series of “somethings,” actually.
For one thing, Khanna and Whitehouse have introduced the Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act.
The duo’s legislation would:
stop corporate profiteering
bring gas prices down
return money directly to working Americans.
“The fossil fuel industry is using the crisis in Ukraine to jack up prices and rake in cash. @RoKhanna and I introduced a windfall profits tax to send that money back to the American people through quarterly checks. It’s time to make this right,” Whitehouse tweeted.
Sen Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, the left-leaning independent, also supports the windfall profits tax.
“Last year, oil & gas companies made $174 billion in profits. This year they're on track to make more. We cannot allow big oil to use Ukraine & "inflation" as an excuse to rip-off Americans. I'm proud to join @SenWhitehouse to introduce a windfall profits tax. Let's get it done,” Sanders tweeted.
Khanna, Whitehouse, and other Democrats are also taking aim at the huge public relations campaigns huge petroleum corporations undertake in an effort to try to convince Americans that they are working towards a cleaner, more-efficient future than they actually are.
“Watch any ad for a fossil fuel company and you’ll spot one of these deceptive tactics. If @BCWGlobal, @Ogilvy, and @EdelmanPR are serious about climate action, they’ll #StopPolluterPR,” Whitehouse wrote.
Other Democrats, including Sen Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, agreed.
“Big Oil has spent millions on spin doctors who mislead people about their role in the climate crisis. Now execs are cashing in on the Ukraine crisis with windfall profits and stock buybacks. It's time to #StopPolluterPR,” Van Hollen tweeted.
Meanwhile, Democrat Melanie D'Arrigo, running for Congress in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, is calling out the fossil fuels industry for the hundreds of billions of dollars it receives in tax giveaways — while also price- gouging consumers.
“The fossil fuel industry gets $650 billion per year in direct and indirect taxpayer subsidies, they’re destroying our planet and price gouging consumers on gas — all while making record profits. End the fossil fuel industry. Hold oil execs accountable. Realize a #GreenNewDeal,” D'Arrigo wrote, referring to a set of proposals by Sen Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to quickly transition the nation off of fossil fuels and towards clean, renewable sources.
How Americans feel
Biden just last week announced his decision to crimp the main artery of the Russian economy by shutting down the flow of Russian oil into the United States.
Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin cited contradictory public opinion data that shows how confused Americans are at the moment when it comes to fuel imports and fuel prices.
Some 70 percent of Americans disapprove of Biden's handling of fuel prices, on the one hand, but an overwhelming 77 percent support the president’s ban on Russian oil — even if that means spending more at the pump.
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