The Nation - News from April 7, 1986

Energy Secretary John S. Herrington rejected a call from Texas Gov. Mark White for increasing the tax on imported oil to protect the domestic petroleum industry against plunging oil prices. “An import fee does not make sense for several reasons,” Herrington said. “I don’t care what you call it, oil import fee, tax, the President is not for it. . . . (It’s) a dead letter.” He also denied allegations by White and others that Vice President George Bush has met with Saudi Arabian officials to urge them to curb oil exports to bolster petroleum prices. Besides Saudi Arabia, Bush is visiting Oman, North Yemen and Bahrain.