As Republicans wobble on oil tax breaks, industry readies for debate

As Republican talk on the campaign trail intensifies about cutting billions of dollars in drilling tax breaks, the industry's main trade group on Thursday made clear that Big Oil is not yet ready to embrace the loss of deductions in return for lower corporate rates.

"We understand that during the dynamic of a tax reform scenario, the industry will be impacted, just given the size and scope of our industry," said Brian Johnson, senior tax adviser at the American Petroleum Institute, during a media briefing.