44 SENATORS BEHIND KEYSTONE BILL TOOK $23 MILLION IN CAMPAIGN CASH FROM BIG OIL

 

Washington, D.C. – Forty-four Senators who introduced legislation today backing the controversial Keystone XL pipeline received $23.4 million in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry since 1989,according to analysis by 350.org and Public Campaign Action Fund. The figures reflected data coded by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics and available on their website and include contributions through September 30, 2011. Fourth quarter filings are due to the Federal Election Commission tomorrow.

The bill, which was announced today by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and cosponsored by 42 GOP senators and one Democratic Senator, would approve the Keystone XL project despite the Obama Administration’s rejection of its permit following months of intensifying protest against it and studies downplaying its potential economic impact.

 

“We no longer can just accept business as usual on Capitol Hill – the idea that the fossil fuel lobby puts a quarter in the slot, turns the handle, and gets a shiny toy has to come to an end,” said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org. “The nation’s top scientists, not to mention ten recent winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, have explained why this is a lousy idea. That should speak as loudly as campaign cash.”

 

The analysis of campaign donations for the cosponsors found that seven of them have taken more than one million dollars over their careers from the oil industry. The cosponsors collectively received more than $1.1 million over the first three quarters of 2011, the last data available in advance of tomorrow’s FEC deadline.

 

“The introduction of this Keystone bill is not about jobs for Americans, it’s about these Senators’ trying to protect their own jobs,” commented David Donnelly, national campaigns director of Public Campaign Action Fund. “They’re looking out for themselves, paying back their Big Oil donors, and trying to cash in for more Big Oil money.”

 

Lifetime Contributions to 44 Senators from Oil and Gas Industry

Name Career Oil & Gas $$
McCain, John (R-AZ)

$2,869,241
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX)

$2,223,271
Cornyn, John (R-TX)

$1,864,050
Inhofe, James M (R-OK)

$1,352,523
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)

$1,352,523
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)

$1,089,811
Vitter, David (R-LA)

$1,011,685
Blunt, Roy (R-MO)

$756,198
Thune, John (R-SD)

$648,962
Coburn, Tom (R-OK)

$551,663
Burr, Richard (R-NC)

$549,852
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)

$532,489
Wicker, Roger (R-MS)

$528,310
Corker, Bob (R-TN)

$444,350
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)

$428,800
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)

$414,550
Moran, Jerry (R-KS)

$384,496
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA)

$381,192
Barrasso, John A (R-WY)

$370,150
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT)

$363,525
Toomey, Pat (R-PA)

$358,716
Shelby, Richard (R-AL)

$352,700
Coats, Daniel R (R-IN)

$348,908
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)

$334,332
Portman, Rob (R-OH)

$321,458
Crapo, Mike (R-ID)

$312,189
Enzi, Mike (R-WY)

$305,650
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)

$297,000
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)

$270,050
Hoeven, John (R-ND)

$263,289
DeMint, James W (R-SC)

$248,389
Rubio, Marco (R-FL)

$238,034
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)

$231,485
Lugar, Richard G (R-IN)

$200,925
Heller, Dean (R-NV)

$156,450
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC)

$149,875
Manchin, Joe (D-WV)

$143,400
Boozman, John (R-AR)

$141,952
Ayotte, Kelly (R-NH)

$140,368
Johnson, Ron (R-WI)

$113,700
Paul, Rand (R-KY.)

$105,840
Risch, James E (R-ID)

$88,350
Johanns, Mike (R-NE)

$82,800
Lee, Mike (R-UT)

$50,350

Total:

$23,373,851

Available online at http://bit.ly/w3B6kl.

 

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