(http://www.opensecrets.org/news/) Oil and Gas Contributions Still Rising in 2010, Republicans Receiving Bulk of Industry Cash By _Lauren Hepler_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php) on October 1, 2010 3:20 PM
(http://www.opensecrets.org/news/oil%20money.jpg) This spring and summer, _hundreds of millions_ (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/05/how-much-oil-has-spilled-in-the-gulf-of-mexico.html) of gallons of oil seeped into the Gulf of Mexico. Simultaneously, debate raged in Congress about offshore drilling, energy independence, "cap-and-trade" legislation and a shift away from fossil-fuel energy sources. Nevertheless, congressional candidates and federal political committees nationwide have raked in more than _$17 million_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/totals.php?cycle=2010&ind=E01) from the _oil and gas industry_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/10/oil%20and%20gas%20industry) so far during the 2010 election cycle -- a number on pace to easily exceed that of the most recent midterm election four years ago. And so far this cycle, more than 20 congressional candidates have raised at least $100,000 from people and political action committees associated with the oil and gas industry, including contributions to their campaign committees and leadership PACs, according to research by the _Center for Responsive Politics_ (https://www.opensecrets.org/) . Although the amount of political money attributable to the oil and gas industry fluctuates, the recipients of the funds have remained relatively consistent over the years, with Republicans accumulating a majority of the industry’s campaign contributions. Here is a chart of the top 10 Senate candidates that have received the most funding from people and political action committees associated with the oil and gas industry, including contributions to their campaign committees and leadership PACs, since January 2005, the start of their six-year election cycle, through early September: Candidate Oil and Gas Total $ David Vitter (R-La.) 512,284 Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) 464,500 Richard Burr (R-N.C.) 221,250 Rob Portman (R-Ohio) 213,258 Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) 208,750 Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) 196,550 James DeMint (R-S.C.) 182,323 John Hoeven (R-N.D.) 172,650 John Thune (R-S.D.) 171,885 Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) 137,450 Here is a chart of the top 10 House candidates that have received the most campaign committee and leadership PAC funding from people and political action committees associated with the oil and gas industry since January 2009, the start of their two-year election cycle, through early September: Candidate Oil and Gas Total $ Dan Boren (D-Okla.) 183,850 Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) 166,232 Chet Edwards (D-Texas) 158,830 Joe Barton (R-Texas) 145,620 Mike Conaway (R-Texas) 129,450 Eric Cantor (R-Va.) 125,550 William Flores (R-Texas) 117,302 John Fleming (R-La.) 108,250 Mike Ross (D-Ark.) 106,350 John Boehner (R-Ohio) 104,300 Only five of the top 20 Senate candidates receiving the most funds from the oil and gas industry are Democrats. Those Democrats have received a combined $803,570 from the industry this cycle. The 15 Republican candidates on the list have collectively raised more than $2.6 million. On the House side, 16 of the top 20 recipients of oil and gas funding are Republicans, who combined have raised more than $1.7 million this cycle. The four Democrats rounding out the list have raised a combined $534,380 -- almost as much as the $512,300 that Sen. _David Vitter_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009659&cycle=2010) (R-La.) has raised on his own this cycle from people and political action committees associated with oil and gas interests. Last month, _OpenSecrets Blog_ (https://www.opensecrets.org/news) chronicled _some of the ways_ (https://www.opensecrets.org/news/oil&gas.php) funding from the oil and gas industry is put to use in Washington. The _“ Fueling Washington” series tools_ (https://www.opensecrets.org/news/oil&gas_tools.php?type=A&cycle=2010) provide sortable data about members of Congress who have received the most money from the energy industry throughout their careers. Rep. _Joe Barton_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005656&cycle=2010) (R-Texas) ranks highly among recipients of oil and gas funding both throughout his career and during the current election cycle, bringing in $145,600 during the 2010 election cycle and $1.7 million since the 1990 election cycle. Craig Murphy, a spokesperson for Barton’s campaign, expressed surprise that Barton ranked “that low,” coming in at No. 4 on the list of House candidates receiving the most funding from the oil and gas industry this cycle. “He’s usually No. 1,“ Murphy said. “With [Barton’s] seniority, with his geographic location and with his committee positions, it makes sense that he would be at the top of the list.” Indeed, many of Barton’s fellow senior members of Congress, and those with committee assignments related to the oil and gas industry, rank highly on the list of top recipients of funding from the oil and gas industry. (http://www.opensecrets.org/news/racestowatch.php) Among Senate candidates receiving oil and gas industry contributions to both campaign committees and leadership political action committees, _Sen. Blanche Lincoln_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00008092&cycle=2010) (D-Ark.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, ranks second this cycle, accumulating $464,500. Lincoln’s fellow Energy and Natural Resources Committee members Sens. _Richard Burr_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00002221&cycle=2010) (R-N.C.) and _John McCain_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00006424&cycle=2010) (R-Ariz.) also rank highly. Burr is third on the list of top recipients after receiving $221,200 from the oil and gas industry this cycle and McCain comes in at No. 12, collecting $120,200. Senate Majority Leader _Harry Reid_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009922&cycle=2010) (D-Nev.) is No. 14 after receiving $113,700 this cycle. On the House side, Rep. _Dan Boren_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00026481&cycle=2010) (D-Okla.), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, is the number one recipient of oil and gas industry funding this election cycle, bringing in $183,850. Other prominent House members have also done well with oil and gas this cycle, including House Minority Leader _John Boehner_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00003675&cycle=2010) (R-Ohio), who has received $104,300 from the industry, and House Minority Whip _Eric Cantor_ (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013131&cycle=2010) (R-Va.), who has received $125,550. Still, Murphy stressed that at least in Barton’s case, a track record of accepting large sums of money from oil and gas companies is not an example of special interest financial pressure eliciting changes in voting behavior or policy stances. “It’s actually the opposite,” Murphy said. “[Barton] has had long standing policy positions, and [oil and gas companies] come to him.” -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
