after hearing about exxon-mobile's record profits this morning, i decided to dig into Jim Sensenbrenner's personal finances once more. What did I find? He owns more than a half a million dollars of Exxon-Mobile stock, and over $250,000 in BP. Of course I broght this to the attention of Bryan Kennedy, and we decided to attack Sensenbrenner on the issue. Friends, this is the type of issue that can bring down a Congressman like Jim Sensenbrenner. Check out the press release:
AS SENSENBRENNER PROFITS FROM HIGH GAS PRICES,
FED CHIEF WORRIES ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT
Speaking to a Congressional committee this morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke raised concerns that high gas prices are hurting the U.S. economy. With gas prices over $3.00 a gallon in Wisconsin, energy policy will likely become a major issue in this year's mid-term elections. While politicians from the local level all the way up to President Bush are calling for investigations and relief, the Republican incumbent from Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District hasn't been working to find a solution to the problem. His opponent, Bryan Kennedy, thinks he knows why.
"Jim Sensenbrenner owns over a half of a million dollars in Exxon-Mobile stock, a company that announced record setting profits this morning. He's also got well over a quarter million dollars in BP stock. It's no wonder that he hasn't done anything to lower gas prices," said Kennedy. "Every time we fill up our cars with gas, Jim Sensenbrenner can laugh all the way to the bank."
Unfortunately, Sensenbrenner's ties to high gas prices don't stop with his personal pocketbook. Sensenbrenner has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from oil PACs, including Exxon-Mobile, ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil, and Halliburton Co.
A financial disclosure filed in May of 2005 indicated that Sensenbrenner owns 9,728 shares of Exxon-Mobile stock, which he valued at $579,788.80. The same number of shares today makes his stock worth $610,140.16. The same filing shows him with 3,604 shares of BP stock, which would be valued at $265,650.84 today.
Kennedy said that he supports an investigation of big oil companies for price-gouging and ripping off the American consumers. He also called for ethics reforms that will make it harder for corrupt Congressmen to profit off of the backs of their constituents.
Sensenbrenner's Financial Disclosure: http://opensecrets.org/...
Sensenbrenner's 2004 election oil PAC money: http://opensecrets.org/...
(Energy / Natural Resources section)