Democrats Accuse Oil Refiners Of Possibly Sorta Maybe Potentially Price Fixing

by William Teach | May 18, 2011 8:21 am

There’s politics, then there are fishing expeditions accusing private citizens and companies of wrong-doing with zero proof to score political points[1]

Senate Democrats are requesting an FTC investigation into “potential price fixing” of gasoline by petroleum refiners.

The Democrats – including Majority Leader Harry Reid – wrote in a letter to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz that refiners may be “cutting back on U.S. gasoline stockpiles in order to artificially keep prices high and inflate their bottom line.” “If true, this behavior is a direct affront to the American people who are still struggling with the economic downturn.”

No. Proof.

John Felmy, chief economist at the American Petroleum Institute, dismissed the call for a probe as “kind of like the ‘Casablanca’ moment; you know, round up the usual suspects.”

So, Dems are kinda like the petty and corrupt local police of a small country? Anyhow, here comes the politics

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri is the lead signer on the letter. Others include Dick Durbin of Illinois, Chuck Schumer of New York and Patty Murray of Washington.

McCaskill – who is one of the biggest targets for Republicans in 2012 – also was given a leading role by Senate Democratic leaders on legislation to raise taxes for the five biggest private integrated oil companies by $21 billion over 10 years and steer those dollars toward reducing the deficit.

Even Talking Points Memo[2] notices that the legislation is unconstitutional and simply a venue for camera face time.

The aim is to give McCaskill – who has been under fire for back taxes and other issues regarding a private plane she co-owned with her husband – and other vulnerable Senate Democrats some talking points heading into the thick of their campaigns.

So, this is simply a way for Democrats to accuse private entities of malfeasance in order to cover their own illegalities? Hey, remember when Pelosi talked about a “culture of corruption?” This goes hand in hand with Obama and Eric Holder wanting to investigate oil speculators. Democrats need a demon (some would call said demon’s “victims”) to blame, as Democrats always need. Forget those pesky Constitutional protections from false accusations, there’s an election coming up.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove[3]. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach[4].

Endnotes:
  1. score political points: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55141.html
  2. Talking Points Memo: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/doh-democrats-oil-subsidy-repeal-bill-is-actually-unconstitutional.php
  3. Pirate’s Cove: http://www.thepiratescove.us/
  4. @WilliamTeach: http://twitter.com/WilliamTeach

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