with IE rather than firefox or others.
here for the firefox users, its in there vust all web page looking...
The oil industry is preparing a new, multimillion-dollar lobbying and educational campaign in response to growing political pressures brought on by rising gas prices, oil lobbyists said.</p>
<p>The American Petroleum Institute (API), the industry’s main trade group, plans a yearlong grassroots lobbying push that could cost in excess of $30 million to explain how the industry works and what has caused pump prices to jump.</p>
<p>The campaign would follow a national advertising effort that has cost around $25 million so far. The API launched it in October as companies began to report record revenues and members of both parties urged punitive measures, such as new taxes on what they saw as “windfall” profits.</p>
<p>Jim Craig, API vice president for communications, said the group is considering new ways to communicate with the public and politicians as it continues its advertising campaign.</p>
<p>He said no decisions have been made about the parameters of the new effort. He described it as a continued attempt at “educational outreach.”</p>
<p>One oil lobbyist described the new campaign as more focused on grassroots lobbying, with the API working with local groups to build support.</p>
<p>“The industry hopes to focus more intensely on the political and public audiences to better educate them on the issues,” one lobbyist familiar with the new effort said.</p>
<p>The effort could begin as early as June, one lobbyist said. The API is reviewing firms that specialize in grassroots efforts to help.</p>
<p>Among the points the API has made on Capitol Hill and elsewhere is that oil companies are spending more than ever on exploration to increase supply.</p>
<p>To counter punitive moves against the industry, the API also notes that pensions and retirement accounts hold 41 percent of big oil stocks.</p>
<p>Critics have recently pointed to outgoing ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond’s generous retirement package as further proof that oil companies are not working hard enough to reduce gas prices. The package includes nearly $400 million in pensions, stock options and other perks.</p>
<p>ExxonMobil made $36 billion in 2005, the largest profit ever recorded. Other oil companies also had record years.</p>
<p>As the summer driving season approaches and gasoline prices march upward, the political parties are laying blame.</p>
<p>Democrats increasingly mention the pocketbook issue on the campaign trail.</p>
<p>“While the do-nothing Republican Congress continues to sit by while gas prices skyrocket, we are encouraging Democratic candidates to talk about real reform initiatives that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by reinvesting in renewable energy,” said Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.</p>
<p>In a news release, House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) blamed Democrats for blocking pro-production policies that could have eased the supply crunch that some people say is behind the recent rise in prices.</p>
<p>But Republicans, traditionally an ally of the oil industry, have also recently sought to distance themselves from it.</p>
<p>House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) wrote the administration Monday urging an investigation into price gouging.</p>
<p>In a speech to the Renewable Fuels Association yesterday, President Bush said he would halt deposits in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the summer to increase supplies. And he said the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission would investigate whether there has been any price manipulation.</p>
<p>If the industry has few public friends, its critics have been unable so far to pass a number of bills designed to ease gas prices.</p>
<p>Plenty of threats remain, however. Members on both sides of the aisle have introduced a variety of bills the industry considers onerous. They include a tax on windfall profits. The industry has argued that such a tax would lead to less money spent on exploration, which could further constrain oil supplies.</p>
<p>A bill with bipartisan support among Senate Judiciary Committee members would direct antitrust enforcement agencies such as the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to take a closer look at any proposed mergers in the industry.</p>
<p>Democrats are apparently preparing a new effort to charge the industry higher royalties, which already bring in billions of dollars a year to federal coffers, one oil lobbyist said.</p>
<p>Oversight committees have promised a series of meetings, some of which are likely to focus on efforts the industry favors, such as opening new areas to oil and gas drilling.</p>
<p>In addition, several House and Senate committees are promising to scrutinize the industry in hearings. Some are likely to call for pro-production policies, including opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.</p>
<p>President Bush also said he would seek to increase refining capacity by easing the permitting process for expanding refineries or building new ones.