Editorial: BP Tab Being Picked Up by Taxpayers?

by Melissa Cubria
TexPIRG Advocate

BP CEO Tony Hayward said that he is brokenhearted over the Gulf oil spill. So am I. He also said BP would pay "every dime" for the cleanup, but unfortunately, you and I are actually paying a part of that tab, too.

Over the next ten years, the oil and gas industry will receive $40 billion in subsidies -- courtesy of the American taxpayer. Because of these subsidies, and despite BP's talk, you and I have already started paying, and will continue to pay for a disaster that has destroyed the ecosystem and livelihood of a region for untold years. Congress can't undo the damage, but it can make BP pay.

By improving the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can stop sending our tax dollars to subsidize Big Oil's mistakes.

The Senate votes this week. We are working with our federation to gather signatures from Americans across the country, demanding that Sen. Reid hold BP accountable. Sign our petition right now and get three friends to join, and we will show Sen. Reid your support before the vote.

BP announced $6.1 billion in profits in April for its first quarter -- double last year's number and roughly six times the amount it has spent on the cleanup so far.

We've long opposed these taxpayer giveaways to the highly profitable oil industry, but subsidizing the oil spill is even more outrageous.

We can make BP pay for the mess it made, and we can ensure that you and I no longer subsidize or encourage the kind of irresponsible risk-taking that could lead to the next catastrophe.

I urge you to sign the petition today.