David, whats this? Your spiritual leader of the religious conservative right allying with the Democrats on BIG OIL?? Collusion charges and threatening to use anti-trust legislation?
I guess hell does freeze over once in awhile, but then.. he's a conservative.. so what he says MUST be right, according to you.
Pat Robertson Says Oil Firms Are Stifling Competition
Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, accused big oil companies today of thwarting his efforts to
open a refinery in California, contending that the companies had intimidated bankers
to keep them from lending money to the venture.
Mr. Robertson said a lack of financing had prevented him from reopening a refinery
near Los Angeles, which he bought in 1998 to supply gasoline to the California
market, one of the most expensive in the nation. He said big oil companies had
pressured lenders, hoping to keep a tight lock on the market by blocking
independent competitors.
"I feel a little like David vs. Goliath," Mr. Robertson said in an interview. "The
majors are extremely big, and it looks like they are trying to stop our restart."
Mr. Robertson declined to name either of two banks that he said had withheld
support for his company, the Cenco Refining Company. He also declined to identify
the oil companies he said were involved in intimidation.
Mr. Robertson said his lawyers were gathering information that he would consider
using in an antitrust lawsuit against oil companies.
Oil companies have denied working in collusion to limit competition. They point to a
Federal Trade Commission report this year on the California gas market, which
found no illegal activity.
Best known as a television evangelist and a former Republican presidential
candidate, Mr. Robertson also controls a variety of businesses. Though he has
supported President Bush, he has allied himself with Democrats in his complaints
against oil companies.
Mr. Robertson said he began to suspect that oil companies acted in concert to
reduce competition after examining internal industry documents gathered by Senator
Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon. Mr. Robertson and Mr. Wyden appeared
together today at a news conference in Washington to publicize their claims
nytimes.com |
