GOP blocks Obama’s effort to end tax breaks for Big Oil

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gop-blocks-obamas-effort-to-end-tax-breaks-for-big-oil/2012/03/29/gIQAbuTwjS_story.html

President Obama on Thursday called on Congress to end tax breaks for oil companies in a populist speech that sought to turn the blame for gas prices nearing $4 a gallon back onto his Republican critics.

In fiery, campaign-style remarks delivered from the Rose Garden, Obama told lawmakers that they can “stand with big oil companies, or they can stand with the American people.”

Senate Democrats followed by forcing a vote to end tax cuts for the five largest oil companies, which Republicans resoundingly defeated.