Cantwell demands energy company pay its fair share

Maria Cantwell, along with fellow Senators Diane Feinstein and Ron Wyden, are criticizing the Bush administration for failing to properly collect royalties from Chevron. From a Feinstein Senate office press release on Thursday:

Senators Feinstein, Cantwell, Wyden Urge Administration to Stop Protecting Energy Companies at the Expense of American Taxpayers

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today sent a scathing letter to the Administration, calling on the Interior Department to stop protecting energy companies at the expense of American taxpayers.

In a recent New York Times article, it was reported that the Interior Department decided not to seek repayment of disputed amounts from Chevron Corporation identified by the Department’s own auditors. The consequences of this decision could cost the Treasury Department hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties from other energy companies drilling in federal lands and waters.

“We continue to be dismayed that the Interior Department is abdicating its responsibility to collect royalty payments from the oil and gas industry producing on federal lands and waters,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne.

“It is obvious that the Interior Department is spending too much time protecting the oil and gas industry and too little time protecting the American taxpayer. It is time that the Department do its job, thoroughly audit oil and natural gas companies, and collect all the royalties that are due to the American taxpayer.

So while the right wing blogosphere is desperately pushing sleaze in a vain attempt to help their candidate, Cantwell is fighting the energy companies on behalf of Washington residents. It's your choice. Use it and vote.