In a just-published piece in Tax Notes, AEI economists Kevin Hassett and Alan Viard explain how targeted tax increases on big oil companies pose significant risks to the economy.

Politicians have frequently directed harsh rhetoric toward particular corporate taxpayers that earn high profits. At times, this rhetoric has been accompanied by policy proposals that single out a narrow set of profitable taxpayers for disparate treatment. Perhaps the most notable example is the war against Big Oil.

"Big Oil" is not to blame for the skyrocketing price of oil. Rather, domestic energy policy and international instability are to blame for rising prices.

Support for offshore drilling is down in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf, but this temporary downturn in support is unlikely to become permanent.

In a recent letter, Martin Lobel describes as "intellectually bankrupt" our arguments against S. 940 and S. 2204, two recent bills that would have imposed unfavorable tax rules on five large oil companies that would not have applied to other taxpayers. Unfortunately, Lobel mischaracterizes our analysis of why the bills violate the rule of law.

There are thousands of offshore wells around the world, and the chances of a serious accident are small--the United States must continue developing new offshore oil resources.

The Democrats' proposal to take away tax subsidies from big oil companies sounds like a scapegoating attempt by a gangster government.

Is it panic time at Obama headquarters in Chicago? You might get that impression from watching events -- and the polls -- over the past few weeks.