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Oil Change International Executive Director Steve Kretzmann argues the government needs to end tax breaks for oil companies.
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Okay now to our top story tonight Exxon -- your children.
Not my words those the words of -- new campaign absolutely blasting the oil company and the industry watch events.
Your next time -- -- -- We don't know whether climate crisis -- the world are we don't care.
Because it's making us rich pool that's write every year congress gets the fossil fuel industry over ten million dollars in -- That's your attacks now mining.
Making a fortune destroying your kid's future and examine -- recall.
Joining me out of fox that this exclusive is Stephen craftsman executive director of oil change international that's one of the groups behind the -- Steven welcome of the show.
That so much forever I understand.
That this is a parity and that -- you know meant to start the discussion.
And that's why we're having you on tonight I'm gonna rise right to debate and tell you that as a mom of small kids and someone who follows this industry closely.
I am totally offended by how -- in January us.
The words in -- at our let's start with some of them I mean you say congress gives the fossil fuel industry ten million dollars in subsidies doesn't your tax dollars.
No they're not their excellence hard earned profits.
That instead of that they're not giving them to the government to feed the beast.
They keep spending and spending our money instead they're allowed to hang on to -- small portion of their profits.
We that's actually not really accurate.
There have been numbers of studies that most recently from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
But also last year we saw bill proposed in congress from senator Sanders and representative Ellison.
All of which identified over ten billion dollars annually that are going to the fossil fuel industry in subsidies you know -- Only -- and you say yes or zero dollar and all this doesn't have any money they don't have money to get the money they have is my money.
That they've taken for me it's company's money that they have -- in its tax revenue.
This it is actually hanging on to earnings -- these are deductions.
Rather than sending an even more tax dollars.
They're paying -- less tax based on investments they're making your calling those things subsidies.
That I -- congress is my son's money that it's hanging content but they're not speaking money back.
They're hanging on until the money they -- you understand that point.
I disagree with your perspective I mean basically I pay taxes you pay taxes.
We can't -- share as -- Exxon does not pay their fair share they get.
Tax breaks their written into the law by their very highly paid lobbyists and supported by.
-- many congress people who they give millions of dollars to every year in election campaign and what.
You can tap the brakes and -- tax breaks so that -- money that they're hanging onto it's not money they're getting.
That.
Congress is now yeah.
It's money that everyone else has today you know they get a special tax break.
Four for instance like if they -- if they wanna make a project international -- They have a special government backed loan program at the US export import bank.
Last year that program alone provided ten point four billion dollars in fossil fuel.
It would have these screw my children if we went out like -- navy and we -- 26.
Dollars a gallon on biofuels -- like the airports.
Which is spending 59 dollars a gallon.
Without better from my children if we were all doing that -- I don't like the navy -- air -- doing that.
I think that's really bad for -- children's future because -- -- betting that the deficit.
The best thing for my children's future and I have two boys 110 years and 110 months and I'm worried about climate change and their future.
We need to stop encouraging the industries that are causing this problem the oil industry gas and coal industries.
And we just start encouraging clean energy -- -- insolvent.
Be very first place to start.
Is to stop giving these subsidies.
My and it's it's a no brainer at the vast majority of Americans of all parties actually support this.
Perspective without order little story we have no economy and that is for sure bad for my children.
We have no jobs we have no industry is okay -- Is -- want energy fastest growing new source of energy in this country wind energy or distributed solar on people have tried to me at least supported by the government and by my that aren't even clean Celine what we -- -- The -- no money to spend on these things.
Yeah actually yeah Kraft -- a big oil gas and coal are actually much more heavily subsidized that are -- you and I disagree on what -- -- -- is it which is fine that's a debate for another time or what we've already had and we agreed to screen by the waking up transforming at a petroleum.
Without tradeoffs France.
Okay bribes so maybe that's essentially isn't here.
View we don't need to drive our cars with with petroleum we -- -- -- -- -- wanna pay 59 dollars a gallon for bio you know.
OK I think we need to be -- governments and our taxpayer dollars wisely.
So I make sure that we can use technology that actually doesn't exacerbate climate change and actually let us in a much -- know it's -- you like coal and nuclear.
And it also comes from solar wind -- I like them very much and they are very little success I trust of energy.
I always excellent yeah.
I'm sorry you see it this way but you know.
The -- was designed to generate that's gonna actually.
It actually we've gotten over 40000.
Views in just one day on YouTube we've gotten.
Were pretty much at our first.
Fundraising goal of 101000 dollars.
Much and we've gotten 101000 shares on FaceBook so you know I think.
People -- you have to -- -- in this classic without question.
I I respect your opinion I thank you so much for coming on and I I think you achieved what you -- -- which was to get the conversation going and that's certainly.
With what happened here thank you for coming on -- sharing your point of view.
Thank you so much time.
