US House passes anti-OPEC bill

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The House of Representatives Tuesday passed a bill authorizing the federal government to sue OPEC in US courts over alleged price fixing, in the latest swipe at the cartel over skyrocketing oil prices.

The bill passed the Democratic-led House by 324 to 84 votes, on a day when the price of oil soared to a record above 129 dollars a barrel.

"The House today with a strong bipartisan and veto-proof margin voted to hold foreign oil cartels and Big Oil accountable," Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

President George W. Bush has however threatened to veto the legislation, although its margin of passage in the House suggested Democrats may get a two-thirds majority needed to sustain the largely symbolic measure.

"Instead of using...