Roemer backs oil tariffs, ending oil subsidies

Former Louisiana congressman and governor Buddy Roemer is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, but many of his policy ideas are well outside the GOP mainstream. He strongly backs increased oil drilling and blames President Barack Obama for overreacting to last year’s BP spill—no surprises there—but agrees with Obama’s call to end subsidies for oil companies. Roemer says ending subsidies and scrubbing the tax code of breaks for large corporations that outsource jobs could help balance the budget. Roemer says he would propose tariffs on oil imported from outside North America in the second year of his administration, and concedes such a move might raise gasoline prices in the short term. He proudly calls himself an environmentalist, and says he’s a protectionist for “critical” industries such as computer chips. “I used to be a free trader, until I went to China and Japan,” he says. “They’re not free traders.” About a dozen people showed up for a meet-and-greet at Bistro Byronz last night, not counting media and staff. Roemer remains a fringe candidate, and says he doesn’t expect to be invited to the next debate June 13 in New Hampshire, but argues the Republican field doesn’t have a true frontrunner and he remains in striking distance. Roemer hasn’t formally announced his plans to run for president, but is expected to make an announcement later this month. —David Jacobs