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End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act: House Democrats at least trying to combat climate change

Chris Graham
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The federal government provides $757 billion – billion, with a b- – in tax breaks and subsidies to the oil and gas industry.

(And Republicans whine about the Green New Deal.)

Legislation introduced by a trio of House Democrats, including Congressman Don Beyer, D-Va., styled the End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act, would eliminate several of those tax breaks.


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  • Text of the End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act can be found here.

It has no chance of getting out of committee, much less the House and Senate, but it’s a noble effort all the same.

“It is crazy, dangerous, and a stupid waste of money for the federal government to keep subsidizing fossil fuels with taxpayer money when we have just reached the 1.5°C global warming threshold and the ten hottest years on record were all in the last decade,” said Beyer, who introduced the bill with Illinois Democrat Sean Casteen and California Democrat Mike Levin.

“I have heard colleagues rail for years against ‘the government picking winners and losers’ when we use the tax code to support a clean energy transition, yet many of those most fiercely opposed to building green jobs with tax credits fiercely guard tax subsidies for massively profitable oil companies. Those tax credits are terrible policy in every way, and we should end them permanently,” Beyer said.

It does seem to run counter to common sense that oil and gas companies get billions from the federal government given the industry’s profitability.

That’s the definition of picking winners and losers right there – the money we spend to subsidize the fossil fuel people undermines our ability to combat the climate crisis and distorts the energy market, creating an unfair and economically-inefficient advantage for polluting fuels against solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, and hydro power.

“In the last decade, we have seen the fossil fuel industry teetering on the verge of irrelevance because it cannot compete with cleaner, cheaper energy sources, but it’s been kept afloat by these subsidies,” Casten said. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Reps. Beyer and Levin to unrig our energy markets, lower emissions, and protect public health.”

“California is experiencing some of the most devastating wildfires in our country’s history, and these fires are made worse by climate change,” Levin said. “While California burns, the oil and gas companies responsible for accelerating the climate crisis continue to receive billions of dollars in tax subsidies every year, all while making record profits. Ending these corporate giveaways will help us fight the climate crisis, hold those who are responsible accountable, and help the U.S. invest in clean energy.”

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].