KING VOTES AGAINST BILLS
TO LOWER GAS PRICES

As gas prices continue to skyrocket, King has done nothing to lower the cost of gas for Iowans in his District.  In 2008, he voted against cracking down on foreign oil price manipulation and against lowering gas prices by suspending strategic petroleum reserve acquisitions.  In prior years, King has repeatedly voted against investigation price gauging by oil and gas companies.  Meanwhile, King has voted at least 12 times to continue giving oil and gas companies billions in subsidies and tax breaks.  Why?  Possibly because oil and gas interests have given King nearly $10,000 in campaign cash making them one of his largest contributing special interests.

King has Taken $8,500 from Oil and Gas Interests.  During the 2008 election cycle, King has taken at least $8,500 in special interest oil and gas campaign contributions.  According to opensecrets.org, “oil and gas” ranks 13th in largest-donating special interests, ahead of “securities and investment,” “health professionals,” and “livestock.” [www.opensecrets.org]

King Voted Against Bill to Crack Down on Foreign Oil Price Manipulation.  In 2008, King voted against bill that would make it illegal for foreign countries to collectively manipulate energy prices or supplies and allow the federal government to sue foreign countries for any such actions that affect the United States.

King Opposed Lowering Gas Prices by Suspending Strategic Petroleum Reserve Acquisitions.  In May 2008, King voted against a bill that would require the Interior and Energy departments to halt acquisition of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) until the end of 2008.

King Opposed Bill to Crack Down on Gas Price Gouging In 2007, King voted against legislation to crack down on gas price gouging. The bill prohibited price gouging for fuels in areas experiencing an “energy emergency,” set civil and criminal penalties for price gouging and permitted states to bring lawsuits against retailers for price gouging. 

King Refused to Stand up to Foreign Gas Price Fixing.  In 2007, King voted against a bipartisan bill to empower the Department of Justice to bring antitrust lawsuits against the OPEC alliance in U.S. courts.

King Voted to Kill Attempt to Crack Down on Gas Price Gouging. The vote was to kill an attempt to bring up a bill that would give the FTC and the Justice Department authority to investigate and prosecute oil companies engaged in price gouging involving gasoline, home heating oil, or natural gas and applies to the entire fuel supply chain.

King Voted Against Price Gouging Proposal.  The vote was against a bill that bans price gouging in the sale of fuels, sets penalties for such price gouging, and permits states to bring lawsuits against wholesalers or retailers for price gouging.

King Opposed Cracking Down on Price Gouging & Lowering Gas Prices. The vote was against a measure to provide the Federal Trade Commission with new authority to investigate and prosecute those that engage in predatory pricing, from oil companies on down to gas stations, with the emphasis on those who profit the most.

King Voted Against Tougher Price Gouging Laws. The vote opposed a motion to grant new authority to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, enforce and then punish price gouging and market manipulation.

King voted Against Giving Consumers Immediate Relief At The Gas Pump. The vote was against an alternative energy plan that would bring immediate relief to consumers at the pump, increase the nation’s investment into renewable fuels and energy efficiency and crack down on price gouging.

King voted Against Giving Consumers Relief At The Pump Despite Record Prices. The vote opposed an amendment to the Interior funding bill that would force the government to sell some oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. King voted against an effort to drive down spiking gasoline prices.

2008: King Voted to Protect Tax Breaks for Oil Companies. In 2008, King voted in favor of a motion to recommit the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act and strike the provision that eliminated a manufacturing tax deduction for larger oil and gas companies.

2008: King Voted to Protect Oil Companies over Renewable Energies. In 2008, King voted against the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. The legislation comprehensively invested resources into wind, solar, and geothermal energy systems.

2008: King Voted to Protect Tax Breaks for Oil Companies.  In 2008, King voted against a motion to end debate on the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act and allow for the House to vote on the legislation.

2008: King Voted to Protect Tax Breaks for Oil Companies In 2008, King voted against a motion to provide for House floor consideration of the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act and allow for the House to vote on the legislation.

2008: King Voted to Protect Tax Breaks for Oil Companies In 2008, King voted against considering the rule to allow the House to vote on the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act and allow for the House to vote on the legislation.

2007: King Voted Against Rolling Back Tax Breaks for Big Oil Companies In 2007, King voted against comprehensive energy legislation that would eliminate or reduce $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for the five major oil and gas companies to be used for tax incentives for development of renewable energy sources like ethanol from grasses and wood chips and biodiesel and for energy efficiency programs and conservation.

2007: King Voted to Protect Oil Companies.  In 2007, King voted against a bill to authorize $16.1 billion in energy-related tax provisions, including new tax credit bonds to encourage energy efficiency in residential property and more production of “clean” energy.

2006: King Voted Against Removing $50 Million in Federal Subsidies for Oil Companies for Deep Water Drilling. The vote was against an amendment to the energy & water appropriations bill that would have removed a $50 million subsidy for oil companies who engage in deep water oil drilling.

2006: King Voted Against Making Energy Companies Pay Their Fair Share. The vote was against an amendment to the FY 07 Interior Appropriations bill that would prevent the Interior Department from awarding new leases to oil companies who are currently drilling offshore – in waters owned by all Americans – without paying royalties.

2006: King Voted Against Removing Tax Breaks for Big Oil Companies from Tax Bill.   The vote was against a motion to instruct conferees negotiating H.R. 4297, the Tax Reconciliation Bill.

2005: King voted for Final Energy Bill that Gave Billions to Oil, Gas and Nuclear Industries. The vote was for the energy conference report that exempts oil and gas industries from some clean-water laws, streamlines permits for oil wells and power lines on public lands, and helps the hydropower industry appeal environmental restrictions.

2003: King voted For Gluttonous Energy Bill Described As “Leave No Lobbyist Behind”. An energy bill that the National Taxpayers Union and the American Conservative Union described as “chock full of subsidies, pork barrel projects, and unnecessary spending that have little, if anything, to do with our nation’s energy needs.”

King Opposed Budget that Invested in Renewable Energy.   In 2008, King voted against a conference report that would establish the congressional budget for fiscal year 2009. The report would call for $3.1 trillion in spending in fiscal year 2009 and federal revenue totaling $2.7 trillion and would allow for up to $1 trillion in discretionary spending for the fiscal year, plus $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would project a $22 billion budget surplus by fiscal year 2012.

King Opposed Tax Credits for Renewable Energy.  In 2008, King voted against a bill that would revive or extend about $55.5 billion in tax breaks for individuals and businesses for one year. Specifically, the bill would extend existing tax credits for solar energy, wind energy, biomass, geothermal energy and certain coal projects.

King Voted Against Expanding Use of Ethanol   In 2007, King voted against comprehensive energy legislation that would expand the use of ethanol sevenfold to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022 with 21 billion gallons coming from cellulosic feedstock such as wood chips and prairie grass.

King  Voted Against Energy Bill That Would Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels   In 2007, King voted against comprehensive energy legislation that would raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.

King Opposed Increase in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy  In 2007, King voted against a bill to authorize $16.1 billion in energy-related tax provisions, including new tax credit bonds to encourage energy efficiency in residential property and more production of “clean” energy.

King Voted to Cut Funding for Renewable Energy Programs In 2007, King voted in favor of an amendment to the fiscal year 2008 Energy and Water appropriations bill that would reduce funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by $102 million.