by Tom Allen
Summer in Maine has just begun, but it is the coming winter that occupies the thoughts of Maine families and small businesses. My Congressional office has received hundreds of calls from Maine families and businesses who are desperate and scared about how they will survive this winter. Gasoline, heating oil and diesel prices are rising at a record rate, and by the time winter arrives they are likely to be even higher. Maine families and small businesses will be forced to make difficult decisions about heating their homes, putting gas in their cars and feeding their families. They need and deserve help from those benefiting most from the current energy crisis.
We need bold action to change direction, provide immediate relief to families and small businesses and put America on a course toward energy independence. In Congress, I have been working on a number of initiatives that would provide immediate relief to families and small businesses across Maine and America. But more must be done.
• Congress must immediately repeal the tax breaks and subsidies for Big Oil that have been granted over the last seven years by President Bush and his allies in Congress.
• Investors and oil companies must stop driving up the price of crude oil by engaging in financial speculation and shady overseas trading and engaging in price fixing and monopolistic schemes.
• Oil companies must dedicate some of their excessive profits to weatherization and heating assistance programs to help people lower their energy costs.
Families and businesses are suffering while the 5 big oil companies, ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and British Petroleum, are enjoying record-breaking profits. One company, ExxonMobil, “earned” more than $40 billion dollars last year in profits- the single largest annual profit in history for an American corporation.
It is important that Congress understands that families and businesses in Maine and across the country are hurting and need relief. Please take a few minutes of your time to tell me your story. The form is available on my website, or you may email your stories to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please include in your email your name and the town you are from.
Sincerely,
Tom Allen
U.S. Representative
1st District of Maine
|
