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Call for windfall profits tax

WASHINGTON: U.S. Senate Democrats want the government to grab some of the billions of dollars in profits being taken in by the major oil companies.

The Senators were to vote on Tuesday on whether to consider a windfall profits tax against the five largest U.S. oil companies and rescind $17 billion in tax breaks the companies expect to enjoy over the next decade.

“The oil companies need to know that there is a limit on how much profit they can take in this economy,” said Senator Richard Durbin, warning that if energy prices were not reined in “we’re going to find ourselves in a deep recession.” But the Democrats are going to have to overcome staunch Republican opposition to any new taxes on the oil industry. The five largest U.S. oil companies earned $36 billion during the first three months of the year. — AP

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