is a way special interests have found to get lawmakers to do what they want.

The answer is not more carrots for the industry, like gutting environmental laws and immunizing companies for the harm they cause, but sticks, such as forcing companies to invest in beefing up refining capacity when it is needed,

It just shows that the governor's fundraising is on automatic pilot. Only when there's a spotlight cast on his activities will he ever think about returning the money.

This is a staggering profit and proof that we are being gouged by the oil industry,

If I came to my job and a third of the time didn't do what I was supposed to, I wouldn't have a job,

Oil company profiteering, not increased production costs, are the cause of the price spikes at the gasoline pump. Hurricane Katrina will only increase the probability of profiteering.