Bipartisan political shenanigans

The Senate may consider a bill to reduce or eliminate many of the egregious tax breaks and write-offs that go to Big Oil.

Just one problem: The bill's sponsor, New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez, hasn't included refineries (including the many in New Jersey) under the bill. A staff aide says he didn't talk to any refinery companies.

And, of course, that's not the point. He didn't need to.

Meanwhile, an Ohio defense contractor has found its way around a bill banning earmarks to for-profit companies: Create a nonprofit that just happens to support the mission of the for-profit. And, Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the beneficiary of campaign largesse from the for-profit, just happens to think this is a great idea.

And, so far, at least, it's been all Democratic representatives doing this.