NO “GET-OUT-OF-JAIL CARD” FOR BIG OIL
QUICK READ: Big Oil companies have knowingly fueled catastrophic climate damages for decades, while lying about the dangers to protect their profits. Now, as communities are taking action to make polluters pay, Big Oil’s MAGA lackeys want to completely prevent any liability. Since the start of the Iran war, their profits have risen dramatically, while we’re all stuck paying higher gas prices. Our MoCs must oppose blanket immunity in whatever legislation it might appear and push instead to recoup Big Oil’s unjustified windfall profits.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Big Oil’s known for decades their products could cause catastrophic climate effects, but they lied to the public to protect their massive profits.
As climate disasters have grown more extreme, state and local communities have found ways to hold fossil fuel corporations responsible and force them to cover their actions’ costs. Eleven states and dozens of city, county and tribal governments—representing 25+% of Americans—have lawsuits pending, and numerous states are considering climate superfund laws to help protect public infrastructure from climate-driven damages.
While making taxpayers solely responsible for Big Oil’s expensive climate disasters, given its decades-long profitability, is unacceptable, its lackeys in Congress have done just that in their so-called Stop Climate Shakedowns Act (S.4340/HR.8330), modeled on a 2005 law protecting gun manufacturers, which gives Big Oil complete immunity immediately.
Big Oil’s also benefiting enormously from Trump’s Iran war, which, triggering the largest fuel supply disruption ever, sent crude oil costs surging. If prices remain high, Big Oil will earn $63 billion in windfall profits by years’ end. A windfall profits tax would recover 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains, returning them to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
Congress must protect American families, not Big Oil, by supporting the popular windfall profits tax (S.4111/HR.7960), which will provide consumers relief and prevent corporate profiteering, and by opposing MAGA Republicans’ extremely unpopular attempts to shield Big Oil from the consequences of its climate crisis behavior in S.4340/HR.8330 and any future proposed legislation.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil, by supporting the windfall profits tax (S.4111) and by refusing to shield Big Oil from paying for the massive damages its products have caused (S.4340). Thank you Senator Merkley for co-sponsoring S.4111, but your constituents need you to also work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by S.4340 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (S.4111), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by S.4340 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (S.4111), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills. Your constituents are watching you.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by HR.8330 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (HR.7960), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by HR.8330 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (HR.7960), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills. Your constituents are watching you.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by HR.8330 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (HR.7960), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by HR.8330 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (HR.7960), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 |DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by HR.8330 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (HR.7960), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling to demand that Congress stand up for the American people rather than Big Oil. Your constituents need you to work tirelessly to ensure state and local communities retain the power to sue Big Oil for the havoc and damages their products have caused, by opposing the immunity granted by HR.8330 and any other similar legislation and to support the windfall profits tax (HR.7960), which would return 50% of these egregious, opportunistic gains to American families already struggling with skyrocketing gasoline and energy bills.
FURTHER READING
Trump declares war on state climate lawsConfirmed: Big Oil lobbyists want to kill climate accountability lawsuits
Gun Manufacturers Won the Ultimate Legal Shield. Big Oil Wants That, Too
No Immunity for the Fossil Fuel Industry (letter to Schumer and Jeffries)
Republican lawmakers attempt to shield big oil from climate lawsuits in ‘alarming’ bills
Republicans introduce extreme bill to ban lawsuits against Big Oil forever
Why Congress Must Block a Liability Waiver for the Fossil Fuel Industry
“Economic Civil War”: States Push Laws to Shield Oil and Gas Companies from Accountability
Democrats urge windfall tax as big oil set to make billions from Iran war
