Crunching the Numbers on Oil Industry Mid-Term Spending
It’s no secret that the oil and natural gas industry has always had a huge influence in Washington. But given this summer’s massive oil spill and the prospect
Jul 31, 2020690.7K Shares10.4M Views
It’s no secret that the oil and natural gas industry has always had a huge influence in Washington. But given this summer’s massive oil spill and the prospect that Congress will pass stringent new drilling rules, the oil industry appears to be stepping up its game.
The industry has given about $17 million to various House and Senate candidates this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. At this rate, the industry is expected to spend much more than it did in 2006, according to the center.
Sen. David Vitter, who hold a steady leadover his Democratic challenger, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), in the race to keep his Senate seat, has received the most oil industry money so far. Vitter, like many Louisiana politicians, has been a vehement opponent of the Obama administration’s moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. He has also backed Sen. Mary Landrieu’s (D-La.) decision to put a holdon President Obama’s nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget until the administration overturns the moratorium.
Here is the Center for Responsive Politics’ list of the Senate candidates who received the most money from PACs associated with the oil and gas industry:
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 And the House candidates that received the most oil and gas industry money:
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
Paolo Reyna
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Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
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