Shaheen questioned on oil subsidies

SUNAPEE- This morning on WGIR-AM former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) appeared to not know the point of oil subsidies.

“What are the subsidies we are giving them for? I hear you talk about subsidies, I have no idea what these subsidies are for,” radio host Angela Anderson asked Shaheen.

"Well…they are tax breaks,” Shaheen said.

"For?" Anderson asked.

“I don’t know. They have gone to benefit the oil companies and I think that’s the question," Shaheen said. "Why should we be giving them those subsidies.”

The back and forth prompted New Hampshire Republican Party chairman Fergus Cullen to label Shaheen “out-of-touch.”

“This is another example of Jeanne Shaheen being out-of-touch with New Hampshire,” Cullen said. “Perhaps Jeanne Shaheen should stop reading the talking points sent out by Senator Chuck Schumer.”

“When the oil companies are making $40 billion in profits a year, who knows what we are still giving them $13 billion a year in subsidies for?" Shaheen Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. "As Shaheen said this morning, they are tax breaks that are boosting Big Oil's bottom line while NH families need a break at the pump. We need a Senator who puts the needs of New Hampshire families ahead of the special interests.”

Sununu voted against giving tax breaks to oil companies in 2004.