Pelosi Spokesman Statement on Chairman Ryan’s Endorsement of Ending the Exxon Earmark

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Washington, D.C. – Below is a statement from Drew Hammill, spokesman for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, following the endorsement today by Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of ending taxpayer subsidies of Big Oil.  Earlier this week, Leader Pelosi sent a letter to Speaker Boehner calling for a vote next week on ending taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil following Boehner’s comments on Monday where he acknowledged that oil companies “ought to be paying their fair share”:

“While American families are facing pain at the pump and Big Oil rakes in billions in profits, the Republican leadership appears to be falling off the Big Oil bandwagon.  Following Speaker’s Boehner’s lead in calling for Big Oil to pay ‘their fair share,’ Chairman Ryan has now endorsed Democratic efforts to end the taxpayers subsidies enjoyed by Big Oil.

“Leader Pelosi has called on Speaker Boehner to hold a vote next week to end the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil and now his own Budget Chairman has signaled his support.   It’s time for Speaker Boehner to schedule a vote to end the Exxon earmark.”

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Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) agreed to end subsidies to oil companies during a town hall in Waterford, Wisconsin, this morning:

Q: The subsidy for the oil companies that the federal government gives. They’ve gotta stop.

RYAN: Sure.

Q: End the oil company subsidies…

RYAN: I agree.

Q: …and you will gain a lot of that money in the red back.