"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

Massachusetts in energy deal with Venezuela
Deal provides discounted oil to needy in state
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:25 p.m. ET Nov. 22, 2005

QUINCY, Mass. - Venezuelan officials signed a deal Tuesday to ship 12
million gallons (45 million liters) of discounted home heating oil to poor
Americans in Massachusetts as part of plan by Venezuelan leader Hugo
Chavez to help needy U.S. communities.

The fuel is being offered by Citgo Petroleum Corp., a subsidiary of
Venezuela's state-owned oil company which runs roughly 16,000 gas stations
in the U.S.

U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, who helped broker the deal, called the
agreement "an expression of humanitarianism at its very best," and
rejected criticism that the move was motivated by politics. Chavez often
blames the plight of the poor on unbridled capitalism and had criticized
U.S. President George W. Bush's government for failing to reduce poverty.

"This is a gesture about people," said Delahunt, a Democrat.

Delahunt said the agreement could set an example for U.S. oil companies.
Congressional leaders have asked the companies to use some of their
profits to fund heating fuel assistance programs for low-income residents.

"I just hope that this sends a message, and that other oil companies will
step and help also," Delahunt said.

Reducing costs?
Chavez announced the idea of offering fuel directly to poor U.S.
communities during a visit to Cuba in August. He has said the aim is to
bypass middlemen to reduce costs for the American poor.



And you should have seen Delahunt and Markey taking advantage of every photo
op on the local news stations taking credit for this "breakthrough". It was
not "delicious". It was positively disgusting.

Eisboch