Venezuelan Oil Corp Offers Cheap Heating for Indian Tribes

Venezuela?s state-owned oil company Citgo Petroleum Corp. wants to offer deep discounts on home heating oil to American Indian tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

Representatives of the firm have contacted the Tulalip Tribes near Marysville, the Yakama Nation in central Washington, the Nez Perce and Coeur D?Alene tribes in Idaho, and others about a possible 40 percent discount on home heating oil.

Citgo is the Houston-based subsidiary of an oil company controlled by Venezuela and its controversial elected president, Hugo Chavez.

Citgo first delivered discounted heating oil to low-income communities last year in Massachusetts, New York and other Northeast states. Using the slogan, ?From the Venezuelan heart to the U.S. hearths,? Citgo sold fuel to eligible homes and nonprofit organizations.