The Politics of Oil......from The Center of Public Intregrity..outstanding

[RedEarth]

Five indepth reports on BIG OIL.....

Big Oil Protects its Interests
Industry spends hundreds of millions on lobbying, elections

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2004 — The United States is the oil and gas industry's biggest customer, slurping up fully a quarter of global production in 2003. Not surprisingly, the industry has lavished more than $440 million over the past six years on politicians, political parties and lobbyists in order to protect its interests in Washington, according to a new report by the Center for Public ....

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Gimme Shelter (From Taxes)
U.S. oil and gas companies have 882 subsidiaries in tax haven countries

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2004 — U.S. oil and gas companies have at least 882 subsidiaries located in oil-free tax havens such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and even the tiny European principality of Liechtenstein, a Center for Public Integrity investigation has found. Further, the investigation revealed that at least a half dozen U.S. oil and gas companies have actually re-incorporated in tax haven countries. >>

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Koch's Low Profile Belies Political Power
Private oil company does both business and politics with the shades drawn

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2004 — Koch Industries could be the biggest oil company you have never heard of—unless, that is, you hang around the halls of government in Washington. Koch is the leading campaign contributor among oil and gas companies for the 2004 election cycle, giving $587,000 so far, the Center for Public Integrity has found. Next came Valero Energy at $568,000. >>

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A Pipeline of Influence
Even before he became VP, Dick Cheney and Bush fundraisers were crafting national energy policy

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2004 — The National Petroleum Council, a little-known federally chartered but privately funded advisory committee, has been an underground pipeline of political influence for the oil and gas industry in Washington for years. NPC members, including current members of the Bush White House and several Republican fundraisers, stood to benefit from their advice to the Energy Secretary by opening concessions for their oil and gas companies. >>

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Big Oil Spends $400,000 on Government Junkets
Legislators taken to NASCAR races, "Wildcatters Ball"

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2004 — Since January 2000, the oil and gas industry has spent $393,952 to transport and entertain members and staff of Congress's energy committees and top Energy Department officials in places such as Vail, Colo., London and Hong Kong. >>

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all articles available on...

http://www.publicintegrity.org/oil/