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In the USA? Turn up the heat on Congress!
People across the country are making this issue unignorable. We're asking our leaders a simple question: “Do you support ending subsidies to the fossil fuel industry?”
We've assembled some great information and resources on fossil fuel subsidies, from fact-sheets to infographics. Check them out and then share them far and wide.
Masada Disenhouse is one of the co-founders of SanDiego350.org which formed in 2011 when the coordinators of the San Diego Moving Planet event were enthusiastic about continuing to work together to grow the climate movement in San Diego. Visit them at www.SanDiego350.org.
SanDiego350.org is on target to visit all five of our members of congress (in San Diego County) by the end of October. We’re asking them to support ending federal subsidies for fossil fuels as part of the larger 350.org effort. We’ve visited three so far and have meetings set up with the offices of the remaining two later in October.
It’s been a real learning experience for us (most people in our group had not met with their congressperson previously) and gave us an opportunity to introduce our group and our concerns regarding climate change to the members of congress. Luckily there were a couple of people in our group who are experienced and helped us put together agendas and talking points and get ready for the meetings. Our talking points include pointing out that the fossil fuel industry doesn’t need any subsidies, discussing San Diego’s leadership and growth in green jobs – which are hampered by fossil fuel subsidies, issues of national security, as well as expressing our concerns about the significant impacts of climate change that are projected for our region, and which are already starting to occur.
Our best visit so far was with Congressman Bob Filner (D). Not only did he support ending all fossil fuel subsidies, but he sent each of the people who attended the meeting a letter to confirm that he had co-sponsored the Keith Ellison / Bernie Sanders bill to end fossil fuel subsidies. Congressman Filner was also a speaker at SanDiego350.org’s very first event, Moving San Diego to a Clean Energy Future, in September 2011.
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D) also supports ending fossil fuel subsidies. She noted in our meeting with her that her voting record indicates her support for ending subsidies.
Finally, we obtained the following quote from Congressman Brian Bilbray (R) after meeting with his Deputy District Director, “If the federal government is serious about reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, then government should create an energy policy where all technologies are considered equally and no one sector receives special treatment. I see climate change as an issue that will require the innovation of the private sector in partnership with the federal government to encourage the development of a true source of clean renewable energy.”
That leaves Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R) and Darrell Issa (R), who we’ll be talking to soon. Check back at our blog for updates. We’re also talking about taking our new advocacy skills to the San Diego City Council members as they prepare to approve the City’s Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (CMAP) to meet the requirements of AB32, California’s Climate Solutions Act of 2006.
The following blog post was submitted by first-time bird-dogger and 350 Activist, Nancy Sharp:
Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to bird-dog candidates in your own area:
When 350.org asked me to bird-dog Wilmington, North Carolina’s Republican candidate for Congress, it sounded like something you would do in the woods with binoculars and hiking boots. But the more I learned about the bird-dogging tactic (following candidates and politicians and asking them key questions), the more it made sense. David Rouzer is an up-and-coming G.O.P. star in Wilmington, and we deserve to know where he stands on fossil fuel subsidies.
Step 1: Find out where your Candidate’s next public appearance will be.
With a little research, we found that Rouzer would be appearing at a local G.O.P. campaign event for realtors. My mission was to attend (I like the word infiltrate better) and get Rouzer’s statements about oil subsidies on video.
Rouzer’s campaign website described the event as a fund raiser, and Eric Cantor, the Speaker of the House, was supposed to be there. To attend, they were asking for donations ranging from a few thousand dollars to the minimum $250. I emailed an RSVP and received this response, “What should we put you down for?” I emailed back, “I am retired and my husband is unemployed, will you accept a lesser amount?” I was surprised to get another response. “Yes, we will accept a lesser amount.” And they didn’t ask me, “How much less?” or “Are you sure you are not a Climate Activist?”
Step 2: Dress the part and bring a video camera!
The day of the event, I was a little intimidated, fearful that someone would find me out or ask me for a donation. You should know that I am an old California Flower Child. I have long gray hair and short fingernails and yes, I like to wear Birkenstocks. But if the event was for realtors, then I would look like a realtor. I put on my business wear, and I was ready: I brought along my little digital camera that has a video button on it.
Step 3: Roll with the punches.
When I walked into the hall, I discovered that the fund raiser had morphed into a candidate’s forum. Republicans and Democrats were represented, but this didn’t change my plan.
One by one, each candidate gave a little speech, all detailing how their policies would benefit realtors. Those running for congressional seats spoke a lot about how they were determined to keep property insurance rates from going up because that’s good for real estate sales. On that subject, David Rouzer referred to the national study that used climate science to predict sea level rise, calling the study “ridiculous.” He proudly proclaimed that he fought against it.
Step 4: Jump at the opportunity to ask questions and record responses.
When the speeches were over, the audience was invited to step up and meet the candidates. I hurried over to Mr. Rouzer, holding my camera casually in my hand, and pushed the video button. My heart was pounding with excitement when I asked Mr. Rouzer, “Do you support ending all fossil fuel subsidies?” And then unbelievably he began answering my question. The first thing he said was , “I’m for fossil fuel”. Then he went on to explain that if ending subsidies to oil and gas companies was costly to the companies, he would be against ending them.
You can see the interview here:
I can’t believe how easy this was, and next time, let‘s get a whole group together to share the experience!
Fortune Magazine is out with its Fortune 500, its annual ranking of America’s largest and most powerful corporations. In pole position is Exxon, whose profits in 2011 rose 35% to $41.1 billion. A good haul, by any definition. Only Wal-Mart stood in the way of a clean sweep by oil and gas companies at the top of the leaderboard, with Chevron ($26.9 billion profit) and ConocoPhillips ($12.4 million profit ) taking spots 3 and 4.
So with oil companies making more money than in the history of money, why do Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan continue to support taxpayer giveaways to these massive corporations? Oil companies enjoy about $4 billion annually in federal tax subsidies, and Ryan’s budget, which Romney supports, preserves these giveaways while cutting back on Medicare, Medicaid, education, and other vital services.
When you factor in subsidies for gas and coal, fossil fuel companies will enjoy about $113 billion over the next 10 years in government handouts. In case you are curious, that $113 billion would buy about 2.8 million Chevy Volts (at about $40k per car) and would weatherize about 45 million US homes.
Defenders of these subsidies will tell you that if we get rid of them gas prices will go up and we will curtail American oil exploration. Here’s what the experts say: Guess again. Gas prices are set at the global level in a global market, so removing subsidies here would have no effect on prices. In fact, a 2009 study from the non-partisan Resources for The Future found that if subsidies were cut, the average person would spend, at most, just over $2 more each year on petroleum products. I can probably afford that and I bet you can, too.
And disrupting American energy production? Probably not. Ask yourself, are the oil, coal and gas going to suddenly move to the North Sea? My guess is that with subsidies or not, Exxon will still want at the fossil fuels here.
Want another reason to end these subsidies? How about the fact that fossil fuels are cooking the planet. In June, 3,215 daily high temperature records were set; so far this year, more than 2.1 million acres have burned in wildfires. Step 1 to solving the climate crisis is to stop funding the corporations that are causing the problem. Step 2 is to actually charge polluters for polluting and to use that money to grow our clean energy economy. Even ExxonMobil admits that we need a carbon price but our Congress hasn’t gotten it done.
So as Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan crisscross the country this summer and fall calling President Obama a reckless socialist who wants to grow government, just remember that it’s Romney and Ryan that want to keep the flow of taxpayer money going to the country’s richest corporations, not the president.
To find out about what you can do about this, and to learn more about the Sanders-Ellison bill to end all fossil fuel subsidies, please visit www.endfossilfuelsubsidies.org.
Fortune Magazine is out with its Fortune 500, its annual ranking of America’s largest and most powerful corporations. In pole position is Exxon, whose profits in 2011 rose 35% to $41.1 billion. A good haul, by any definition. Only Wal-Mart stood in the way of a clean sweep by oil and gas companies at the top of the leaderboard, with Chevron ($26.9 billion profit) and ConocoPhillips ($12.4 million profit ) taking spots 3 and 4.
So with oil companies making more money than in the history of money, why do Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan continue to support taxpayer giveaways to these massive corporations? Oil companies enjoy about $4 billion annually in federal tax subsidies, and Ryan’s budget, which Romney supports, preserves these giveaways while cutting back on Medicare, Medicaid, education, and other vital services.
When you factor in subsidies for gas and coal, fossil fuel companies will enjoy about $113 billion over the next 10 years in government handouts. In case you are curious, that $113 billion would buy about 2.8 million Chevy Volts (at about $40k per car) and would weatherize about 45 million US homes.
Defenders of these subsidies will tell you that if we get rid of them gas prices will go up and we will curtail American oil exploration. Here’s what the experts say: Guess again. Gas prices are set at the global level in a global market, so removing subsidies here would have no effect on prices. In fact, a 2009 study from the non-partisan Resources for The Future found that if subsidies were cut, the average person would spend, at most, just over $2 more each year on petroleum products. I can probably afford that and I bet you can, too.
And disrupting American energy production? Probably not. Ask yourself, are the oil, coal and gas going to suddenly move to the North Sea? My guess is that with subsidies or not, Exxon will still want at the fossil fuels here.
Want another reason to end these subsidies? How about the fact that fossil fuels are cooking the planet. In June, 3,215 daily high temperature records were set; so far this year, more than 2.1 million acres have burned in wildfires. Step 1 to solving the climate crisis is to stop funding the corporations that are causing the problem. Step 2 is to actually charge polluters for polluting and to use that money to grow our clean energy economy. Even ExxonMobil admits that we need a carbon price but our Congress hasn’t gotten it done.
So as Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan crisscross the country this summer and fall calling President Obama a reckless socialist who wants to grow government, just remember that it’s Romney and Ryan that want to keep the flow of taxpayer money going to the country’s richest corporations, not the president.
To find out about what you can do about this, and to learn more about the Sanders-Ellison bill to end all fossil fuel subsidies, please visit www.endfossilfuelsubsidies.org.
Our best visit so far was with Congressman Bob Filner (D). Not only did he support ending all fossil fuel subsidies, but he sent each of the people who attended the meeting a letter to confirm that he had co-sponsored the Keith Ellison / Bernie Sanders bill to end fossil fuel subsidies. Congressman Filner was also a speaker at SanDiego350.org’s very first event, Moving San Diego to a Clean Energy Future, in September 2011.
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D) also supports ending fossil fuel subsidies. She noted in our meeting with her that her voting record indicates her support for ending subsidies.
Finally, we obtained the following quote from Congressman Brian Bilbray (R) after meeting with his Deputy District Director, “If the federal government is serious about reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, then government should create an energy policy where all technologies are considered equally and no one sector receives special treatment. I see climate change as an issue that will require the innovation of the private sector in partnership with the federal government to encourage the development of a true source of clean renewable energy.”
That leaves Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R) and Darrell Issa (R), who we’ll be talking to soon. Check back at our blog for updates. We’re also talking about taking our new advocacy skills to the San Diego City Council members as they prepare to approve the City’s Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (CMAP) to meet the requirements of AB32, California’s Climate Solutions Act of 2006.