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Pumping for Answers

Video

Washington Sketch: Pumping for Answers

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank sketches the Senate Judiciary's hearing on the increasing price of oil.

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"Is it over $2 million?"

"Yes, it is, sir."

"Is it over $3 million?"

"Yes, sir."

"Over $4 million?"

Robertson folded. "I don't remember," he said.

Much higher, Bob! The Chevron executive received $14.2 million in cash compensation in 2007, and stock options worth another $14.2 million give us a grand total of $28.4 million.

The chairman consoled the witness. "If I made over $4 million a year, I probably wouldn't remember, either," he said.

Contestant Stephen Simon from Exxon Mobil copped to $12.5 million (actually, his pay is more like $32.7 million, including the options value). Men from Shell and BP were relative paupers in the low seven figures.

Of course, the executives' pay, while outlandish, has little to do with the price of gas. But Congress can't persuade President Bush to get serious about conservation and alternative energy. As if to underscore the point, the White House, just 16 minutes into the hearing, released by e-mail a threat to veto legislation offering new tax incentives for renewable energy.

This left the senators little to do other than scolding the five oilmen before them. "Is there anybody here that has any concerns about what you're doing to this country with the prices that you're charging and the profits you're taking?" demanded Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

"I'm a regular person," answered Robertson, the $28.4 million man.

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