Nesselhuf: Thune Protects Big Oil Subsidies He Once Called Unnecessary

I don't like to reprint too many press releases from my party chair; I worry such reprints would make me sound too much like a certain past prominent party-propaganda-parroting blogger. (Besides, my chances of getting a nice patronage job for such efforts are somewhat smaller.)

But did you hear the one about the Republicans (and three darned Democrats) who voted against a plan to reduce the deficit by ending corporate welfare for über-profitable Big Oil?

South Dakota's junior Senator John Thune voted to protect this upward redistribution of wealth. South Dakota Democratic Party chairman Ben Nesselhuf finds Thune's Big Oil subservience bothersome... and perhaps in opposition to Thune's own past statements:

The price of gasoline has hit consumers hard as profits at the top five oil companies have surpassed $1 trillion over the last decade. In the first calendar quarter of 2011, for example, ExxonMobil reported profits of nearly $11 billion in the first quarter of 2011, a 69 percent increase; Shell reported profits of $7 billion, ConocoPhillips reported profits of $3 billion; Chevron reported $6.2 billion; and BP reported $5.5 billion. Combined, they earned $32 billion so far this year.

When gas prices surged in 2006, Thune himself questioned the need for subsidies for big oil stating, "If, in fact, [oil companies] are making such enormous profits, then perhaps they don't need the support and the tax incentives that are given to them by the American taxpayer."

Just a few months earlier, Jim Mulva, the CEO of ConocoPhillips, made similar remarks. Mulva said in federal testimony, "with respect to oil and gas exploration and production we do not need incentives." Mendendez noted in a memo circulating the Senate that skyrocketing oil profits have led to larger stock buybacks and dividends instead of further investment in drilling and exploration ["Thune Protects Billions in Taxpayer Giveaways to Big Oil Companies," press relase, South Dakota Democrativ Party, 2011.05.17].

Read the chairman's full press release here. It's really fun! Plus, it's right on the money.

Bonus Conservative Cognitive Dissonance: While out circulating petitions to refer HB 1230, I chatted with one lady who probably voted for Thune. She declared herself totally in favor of the 10% state budget cuts. I assured her HB 1230 (or the referral or repeal thereof) wouldn't touch the budget cuts. She declared herself a conservative who doesn't believe in handouts. I pointed out that HB 1230 gives handouts to corporations.

Then she asked who's behind the referral movement. "We Democrats," I said, but I noted that I'd gotten signatures that morning from folks who said they think taxes are too darn high (they at least sounded conservative, but for this petition, I don't ask folks' party persuasion).

The lady said those darn Democrats like to demonize corporations and raise taxes. Therefore—therefore—she would not sign a petition to end exactly the kind of free-market interfering, wealth-redistributing handouts she ought to hate. Sorry, Ben! I'll keep trying!