Sen. Bernie Sanders Pledges to Introduce Legislation Repealing ‘Absurd’ Fossil Fuel Subsidies (International Business Times)

The Vermont senator was one of several speakers at the demonstration, which was organized by the environmental grassroots organization 350.org to call out members of Congress who have supported the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline while accepting millions in campaign contributions from oil companies. The rally featured hundreds of protesters decked out in black-and-white referee shirts aiming to “blow the whistle” on the oil industry’s purported power over Congress.

“One of the absurdities that goes on right here in Washington, D.C., is that Congress keeps voting not for the interest of our children, not in the interest of our future, but for the profits of the huge oil and coal companies,” Sanders told the crowd. In a statement, Congress’ longest-serving Independent, who sits with the Democrats, said ending tax breaks and subsidies for fossil fuel companies could reduce the federal deficit by more than $40 billion over the next decade.

Read the whole article >>