Big Oil's Influence in Washington . NOW | PBS = $82 million to candidates

[L. Coyote]

Big Oil, Big Influence
By LINDSAY RENICK MAYER
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/oil-politics.html


Lindsay Renick Mayer is the money-in-politics reporter for the Center for Responsive Politics. The nonpartisan Washington-based organization researches money's influence on politics and provided data for this story from its website, OpenSecrets.org.

During his first month in office, President George W. Bush appointed Vice President Dick Cheney to head a task force charged with developing the country's energy policy. The group, which conducted its meetings in secret, relied on the recommendations (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/AR2005111501842_pf.html) of Big Oil behemoths Exxon Mobil, Conoco, Shell Oil, BP America and Chevron. It would be the first of many moves to come during the Bush administration that would position oil and gas companies well ahead of other energy interests with billions of dollars in subsidies and tax cuts—payback for an industry with strong ties to the administration and plenty of money to contribute to congressional and presidential campaigns.

During the time that Bush and Cheney, both of whom are former oil executives, have been in the White House, the oil and gas industry (http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/indusclient.asp?code=E01) has spent $393.2 million on lobbying the federal government. This places the industry among the top nine in lobbying expenditures. The industry has also contributed (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=E01) a substantial $82.1 million to federal candidates, parties and political action committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (http://www.opensecrets.org/). 80 percent of the industry's contributions have gone to Republicans.

..........

[L. Coyote]

1. 2006.06.16 - Crude Awakening - NOW | PBS

2006.06.16 - Crude Awakening - NOW | PBS
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/224/index.html

As oil and gas companies continue to make enormous profits in a time of record-high gas prices, watchdog groups are accusing these companies of shortchanging American taxpayers out of billions of dollars in royalties for drilling rights on public property. Members of Congress are also being blamed for making sweetheart deals with Big Oil engineered to avoid the payment of royalties.

"These oil companies along with some members of Congress have really engineered one of the greatest train robberies of all time," says California Congressman George Miller.

You might not realize it, but American taxpayers own some very valuable property, some of it located in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. If oil and gas companies want to drill on this territory they are required to lease it out from the U.S. government, which collects royalties from them on the taxpayers' behalf.

Big Money

It's no paltry sum. Royalties from oil and gas exploration are the government's second largest source of revenue, behind income tax.......

....

=======
Program Resources:

» Video: Crude Awakening = http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/224/index.html#here
- Interview: David Sirota
» Listen to this show
» Transcript
» E-mail this page to a friend

[Bozita]

3. their $$$ vs our numbers -- $$$ wins again.

Who's surprised?

[L. Coyote]

4. Esp. when they directly BRIBE! Bumper sticker idea: Say NO to the Corrupt Bastards

[L. Coyote]

19. $14.5 B tax breaks for oil, gas, nuclear, coal = Cheney's energy task force

As in Alaska, so also in Washington ... from the article http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/oil-politics.html

Buying Pro-Industry Policy

This support has not gone unrewarded. In 2005, Bush, who has received more from the oil and gas industry than any other politician, signed an energy bill from the Republican-controlled Congress that gave $14.5 billion in tax breaks for oil, gas, nuclear power and coal companies. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was based on recommendations by Cheney's energy task force, also rolled back regulations the oil industry considered burdensome, including exemptions from some clean water laws. All of this transpired only one year after Congress passed a bill that included a tax cut for domestic manufacturing that was expected to save energy companies at least $3.6 billion over a decade.

"Political action committees, lobbyists and executives do not give money to politicians or parties out of an altruistic support of the principles of democracy," says Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program. "They are savvy investors expecting a return on their investments. Politicians routinely deliver on campaign contributions that are provided to them... (by) giving goodies to the industry." And the size of those contributions matters.

In comparison, environmental groups and alternative energy .....

[Solar_Power]

2. Even DailyKos is sponsored by Chevron these days

Chevron ads on top of the main page at DK.

[L. Coyote]

5. Compare 2000 and 2004. WAS the FIX in for 2004?

 
2004  Total:         $25,738,554
 Rank                                DEMs     Rs
1       Exxon Mobil 	$935,516     11%    89%
20      Halliburton     $221,249     13%    87% 

2000  Total       :  $34,096,651
1	Enron Corp    $2,484,173     30%    70%
2	Exxon Mobil   $1,381,600     10%    89%
3	BP 	      $1,291,690     31%    69%
4	Chevron       $1,086,027     28%    72% 
19	Halliburton 	$425,933      2%    98% 

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=E01&Cycle=2000

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=E01&Cycle=2004

Of course, we consumers gave this money to the campaigns.  
Let's save that money and nationalize the energy sector :rofl:
	
	

	

[L. Coyote]

6. Who's Who in the Exxon-Mobil Lackey Stable?

Exxon Mobil - Top Recipients Among Federal Candidates, 1990-2006
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.asp?ID=D000000129&Type=P&Cycle=A

George W. Bush (R)            $118,417
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)    $86,070
Phil Gramm (R-TX)              $62,005
Don Young (R-AK)               $60,300
Tom Davis (R-VA)               $45,750
Rick Santorum (R-PA)           $44,800
Joe Barton (R-TX)              $44,750
Anne M. Northup (R-KY)         $42,000
Heather A. Wilson (R-NM)       $41,500
Conrad Burns (R-MT)            $40,000
Mike DeWine (R-OH)             $39,000
Jon L. Kyl (R-AZ)              $35,800
Christopher Bond (R-MO)        $35,500
Tom DeLay (R-TX)               $34,795
Dennis Hastert (R-IL)          $34,000
George Allen (R-VA)            $33,500
Spencer Abraham (R-MI)         $32,850
John Ensign (R-NV)             $32,500
Robin Hayes (R-NC)             $32,000
Craig Thomas (R-WY)            $31,450

[L. Coyote]

7. Who's Who in the Chevron Lackey Stable?

Chevron - Top Recipients Among Federal Candidates, 1990-2006
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.asp?ID=D000000015&Type=P&Cycle=A

Richard Pombo (R-CA)         $54,200
George W. Bush (R)           $45,150
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)      $42,000
Don Young (R-AK)             $41,300
Tom DeLay (R-TX)             $40,500
Bill Thomas (R-CA)           $39,400
Craig Thomas (R-WY)          $37,650
Phil Gramm (R-TX)            $37,025
Larry Craig (R-ID)           $36,658
Trent Lott (R-MS)            $36,500
Joe Barton (R-TX)            $35,700
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)  $35,499
Jim McCrery (R-LA)           $33,500
John Breaux (D-LA)           $32,700
Christopher S. Bond (R-MO)   $31,369
James M. Inhofe (R-OK)       $30,800
John Ensign (R-NV)           $30,000
Don Nickles (R-OK)           $29,249
Billy Tauzin (R-LA)          $29,200
Wayne Allard (R-CO)          $29,100

[L. Coyote]

8. Who's Who in the British Petroleum Lackey Stable?

British Petroleum - Top Recipients Among Federal Candidates, 1990-2006
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.asp?ID=D000000091&Type=P&Cycle=A

Don Young (R-AK)             $67,800
George W. Bush (R)           $47,388
Ted Stevens (R-AK)           $43,050
George V. Voinovich (R-OH)   $41,900
Mike DeWine (R-OH)           $37,550
John D. Dingell (D-MI)       $27,000
Daniel R. Coats (R-IN)       $25,000
Lynn Martin (R-IL)           $24,450
Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK)    $24,000
Phil Gramm (R-TX)            $23,800
Don Nickles (R-OK)           $23,750
Joe Barton (R-TX)            $22,350
Dennis Hastert (R-IL)        $21,100
James M. Inhofe (R-OK)       $20,000
George Bush (R)              $19,500
Craig Thomas (R-WY)          $19,450
Christopher S. Bond (R-MO)   $19,200
Billy Tauzin (R-LA)          $18,500
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)  $18,250
Michael G. Oxley (R-OH)      $18,100

[Wiregrass Willie]

9. Not much has changed with Big Oil

Since Ida Tarbell wrote about J.D. Rockefeller.

Tarbell capped the series with a two-part character study that revealed her fixation with the man she had been studying for the better part of five years. Focusing on Rockefeller’s weary appearance, he called him "the oldest man in the world -- a living mummy," and accused him of being "money-mad" and "a hypocrite." "Our national life is on every side distinctly poorer, uglier, meaner, for the kind of influence he exercises," she concluded. "

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rockefellers/peopleevents/p_tarbell.html

[L. Coyote]

10. 2008 Oil & Gas: Top 20 Recipients

2008 Oil & Gas: Top 20 Recipients
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.asp?Ind=E01&cycle=2008

Giuliani, Rudolph W (R)    $545,058
Romney, Mitt (R)           $309,933
Cornyn, John (R-TX)        $244,280
Clinton, Hillary (D)       $220,550
McCain, John (R)           $189,935
Domenici, Pete V (R-NM)    $129,450
Richardson, Bill (D)       $126,600
Inhofe, James M (R-OK)     $118,000
Thompson, Fred (R)         $114,950
Obama, Barack (D)          $106,112
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)     $89,050
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)         $80,100
Landrieu, Mary L (D-LA)     $71,300
Pearce, Steve (R-NM)        $68,200
Pryor, Mark (D-AR)          $63,700
Boren, Dan (D-OK)           $62,450
Conaway, Mike (R-TX)        $56,100
Brownback, Sam (R-KS)       $54,415
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)       $49,600
Granger, Kay (R-TX)         $49,550

[L. Coyote]

11. 2006 Oil & Gas: Top 20 Recipients

2006 Oil & Gas: Top 20 Recipients
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.asp?Ind=E01&Cycle=2006&recipdetail=A&Mem=N&sortorder=U

Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX)   $317,586
Santorum, Rick (R-PA)          $260,500
Burns, Conrad (R-MT)           $237,725
Allen, George (R-VA)           $216,600
Talent, James M (R-MO)         $212,920
Bode, Denise (R-OK)            $194,818
Pombo, Richard (R-CA)          $194,298
Corker, Bob (R-TN)             $190,350
Barton, Joe (R-TX)             $188,700
Cornyn, John (R-TX)            $182,200
Fallin, Mary (R-OK)            $169,950
Wilson, Heather A (R-NM)       $149,350
Pearce, Steve (R-NM)           $136,328
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)                $135,700
Hastert, Dennis (R-IL)         $134,600
Cubin, Barbara (R-WY)          $124,150
O'Donnell, Rick (R-CO)         $123,400
DeWine, Mike (R-OH)            $121,650
Bonilla, Henry (R-TX)          $121,426
DeLay, Tom (R-TX)              $118,890

[Hawkowl]

15. Former politicians

Looking at the list, many of these people have been ousted. Let that cheer us up. These corrupt fascists can and WILL be driven from office! Our country will be restored to its people!

[L. Coyote]

17. One thing that strikes me, how many corrupt politicos are on these lists

There is a real pattern between the big money and the exposed-as-corrupt politicos, esp. when we see out-of-state politicos getting the money.

The same ones are on the Eric Prince donor list, and others I've seen. There really is a National Corrupt Bastards Club, and Alaska is just a local, peripheral chapter to this story and secret society.

[Solar_Power]

12. Clinton, Hillary (D) $220,550 -- Can't be

LOL

[L. Coyote]

18. Betting on the lead horse in mid-race !!! We need a study of the most corrupt donors

and who in the DEM party they give money too! Albeit, with the DEMs in control of Congress, the pattern of 85% R donations is eroding. These big oil boys bet on the wrong horse in 2006, and they know it. Now they need a new horse.

[L. Coyote]

13. Koch Industries: Low Profile Belies Political Power = backers of conservative and libertarian cause

"Koch and its employees have made about $3.9 million in campaign contributions for national offices since 1998."

Koch's Low Profile Belies Political Power
Private oil company does both business and politics with the shades drawn
By Bob Williams and Kevin Bogardus
http://www.publicintegrity.org/oil/report.aspx?aid=347


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 Industries (pronounced "coke") is a huge oil conglomerate controlled by brothers Charles and David Koch, two of the country's richest men and among the biggest backers of conservative and libertarian causes. With estimated revenue of about $40 billion last year, Koch is bigger than Microsoft, Merrill Lynch and AT&T.

Koch is the leading campaign contributor among oil and gas companies for the 2004 election cycle, giving $587,000 so far. Next came Valero Energy at $568,000.

Since 1998, Koch is the fourth biggest campaign oil and gas industry giver, behind ChevronTexaco, El Paso Corp. and Enron Corp.

Despite its size and political largesse, Koch is able to dodge the limelight because it is privately-held, .....

[L. Coyote]

14. Only the top 1000 records are being displayed. ... $100,000 RNC

Search Criteria: Donor occupation: Koch Industries
Cycle(s) selected: All
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=d4xh4&txtState=(all%20states)&txtEmploy=Koch%20Industries&txtAll=Y&Order=A

Results: Your search has generated too many results. Only the top 1000 records are being displayed.

KOCH, DAVID H.,    WICHITA,KS 67201   3/5/1999    $100,000    RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
...............

===========
Search Criteria:
Donor name: Koch, David
116 records  = Total for this search: $627,080
3/5/1999   $100,000   RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
8/18/2000   $75,000   RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
5/3/2002    $50,000   RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
9/9/1999    $40,000   1999 Republican S/H Dinner Indiv Non-Fed
3/3/2000    $25,000   RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte
6/30/2005   $25,000   National Republican Senatorial Cmte
3/29/2006   $25,000   National Republican Senatorial Cmte
9/12/2003   $25,000   National Republican Senatorial Cmte
3/4/2004    $25,000   National Republican Senatorial Cmte
4/24/2007   $25,000   Republican National Cmte
.....

Search Criteria:
Donor name: KOCH, CHARLES
55 records = Total for this search: $159,650
6/20/2005   $25,000   Republican National Cmte
5/31/2006   $25,000   Republican National Cmte


 

[L. Coyote]

16. PBS | NOW Oil, Politics, Bribes = Program Resources: Video, Audio, Print, E-mail a Friend...

Don't miss this program also, aired last night and available online NOW!

Program Resources: = Go to the home page for this program at http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/index.html

» Video = javascript ....
» Audio :
Stream = http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/stream.m3u
Download = http://www.pbs.org/now/rss/redir/http://www-tc.pbs.org/now/rss/media/NOW-347.mp3
Podcast = http://www.pbs.org/now/podcast.html
» Print
» Feedback
» E-mail this page to a friend

[L. Coyote]

20. Who's Who in the "Corrupt Bastards Club" ??

Oh, the HUBRIS of the Corrupt Bastards; they printed Club tee shirts and hats!
"Corrupt Bastards Club" has more political appeal than the oxymoranic Culture of Corruption.
What we need now is the complete roster of the current and past membership, to
better paint the picture of who is destined for a jail cell and prisoner number.
Apparently, the Club has quite a few big name U. S. Senate Republican players too.

more ........ DU Archive thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2101151



This photo also appeared on the PBS | NOW program
11.23.07 - Oil, Politics & Bribes - http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/index.html
NOW investigates the bribes, the connections to Big Oil and the payoffs to obtain friendly tax policies.

[L. Coyote]

21. THE Rs: 2006 - House OKs Oil Drilling in Gulf of Mexico

Before losing control of both houses, the Rs moved to enrich their good buddies at Big Oil
But, HEY, did our price per gallon drop. HELL NO!

===================
House OKs Oil Drilling in Gulf of Mexico
House moves to open Gulf area to oil and gas drilling; Senate action expected
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2006 - H. JOSEF HEBERT AP - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/08/ap/business/mainD8LSTT2O0.shtml


(AP) The House approved oil and gas drilling Friday in a vast area of the Gulf of Mexico south of Florida's Panhandle and agreed to steer hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments to Gulf states to restore coastal wetlands and repair hurricane damage.

The drilling provision was attached to a package of popular tax breaks that were approved by vote of 367-45 as lawmakers scrambled to adjourn and end of the 109th Congress.

The tax legislation, including the drilling provision, was expected to be combined with a trade bill and then sent to the Senate in hopes of prompt approval _ assuming last-minute roadblocks can be avoided in the Senate. It wasn't clear late Friday when the Senate might take up the legislation.

The House bill opens to energy companies 8.3 million acres in the east-central Gulf of Mexico that is currently off-limits to drilling. The Interior Department is required to issue its first leases for the area within a year and tap what is believed to be 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. ...........

[L. Coyote]

22. REPORTS Jan 2007 - Interior Department 2005 Cover-Up of Oil and Gas Lease Problems

Interior Dept. Cover-Up of lease scandal
Steve Kretzmann - Jan 15th, 2007 -
http://priceofoil.org/2007/01/15/interior-dept-cover-up-of-lease-scandal/


Apparently there are no lengths to which Bush Administration officials will not go in defense of Big Oil. According to Congressional Quarterly (http://public.cq.com/public/20070113_homeland.html), the Interior Department’s Inspector General will shortly issue a report revealing that Department officials, after learning in 2000 of mistakes in leases that could cost the American people $10 billion, proceeded to cover it up. And apparently Minerals Management Service Director Johnnie Burton lied to Congress about it last year. Ooops.

================
Report to Allege Interior Department Cover-Up of Oil and Gas Lease Problems
By Jeff Tollefson, CQ Staff - http://public.cq.com/public/20070113_homeland.html


A much-anticipated report to Congress will allege that Interior Department officials covered up a problem with oil and gas leases after it was discovered in 2000, according to congressional aides.

The Interior Department inspector general (IG) also has been investigating whether Johnnie Burton, head of the agency that collects royalties, might have been told about the problem earlier than she said in congressional testimony last fall.

“I had to provide them with her testimony because there were questions about its veracity on the issue of when she found out about the flawed leases,” said Larry Brady, Republican staff director for a House subcommittee that has been investigating the issue.

In September, Burton testified before the House Government Reform Committee that she had learned of the problem in 2006. However, the Interior Department issued a statement late Jan. 12 acknowledging that Burton had actually learned of the issue in late 2005 — but did not realize its “significance” until 2006, the department said. Interior officials have not seen the IG report.

Earl E. Devaney, the Interior Department’s inspector general, is scheduled to present his findings Jan. 18 to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

.................

[L. Coyote]

23. Sen. Trent Lott RESIGNS: Corrupt VECO CEO Campaign Contributions. More R Senators Involved.

Corrupt VECO CEO Campaign Contributions. More R Senators Involved.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3077550&mesg_id=3077823



Bill Allen, second from left, is pictured in 2000 with Republican Senators Trent Lott of Mississippi, left, Dennis Hastert of Illinois, and Phil Gramm of Texas.

[Junkdrawer]

24. If AIPAC is the 800 lb. Gorilla, Big Oil is King Kong...n/t