WASHINGTON -- It almost seems like some groups haven't gotten word that the 2012 election is over or that they had so much money leftover that they decided to keep spending. Yes, campaign-style ads are still on the airwaves. Among those producing fresh commercials is the American Petroleum Institute, which is targeting states with Democratic senators running for re-election...
WASHINGTON -- It almost seems like some groups haven't gotten word that the 2012 election is over or that they had so much money leftover that they decided to keep spending. Yes, campaign-style ads are still on the airwaves.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
Among those producing fresh commercials is the American Petroleum Institute, which is targeting states with Democratic senators running for re-election in 2014.
The ads continue to make the point API made in many of their 2012 campaign commercials -- mainly that in its view new energy taxes would hurt an industry critical to the nation's economy. The Sunlight Foundation used reporting on ads buys by local TV stations to figure out where the new API ads are running.
In two oil-producing states, the ads compliment the Democratic Senate incumbents, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Begich in Alaska because they know "job killing energy taxes" would hurt their states' economies.
In other states, the ads say that the Democratic incumbents can make energy a big part of improving the economy if they "choose economic growth and American jobs," not slow them with "job killing energy taxes."
Some in the oil and gas industry worry President Barack Obama might resurrect his proposal to end some oil and gas subsidies to help close the federal deficit.
API contends the industry already pays its fair share.
"Targeting our industry for tax hikes is based on a mistaken assumption that we don't pay our fair share of taxes and are heavily subsidized," said API's Khary Cauthen. "In fact, we pay more in corporate taxes than any other sector. And we pay at higher effective tax rates."
