The oil and gas industry gave nearly $250,000 to each of the 62 senators who voted in favor of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project late last month, according to MapLight, a nonpartisan research organization that tracks the influence of money in politics. The revelations come as the House of Representatives is set to vote on and expected to pass the Senate legislation Wednesday that would approve the pipeline and start transferring oil in western Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the project on a number of grounds, including environmental concerns.
The oil and gas industry, which stands to benefit from the Keystone XL pipeline, gave $236,544 on average to the senators who voted yes on Keystone, or about 10 times more than the senators who voted no. The 36 senators against the pipeline received about $22,882 apiece in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. There was no data on contributions to House members.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., the sponsor of the Keystone Senate bill, received about $275,000 from the industry, according to MapLight, but he wasn’t the biggest beneficiary of oil and gas industry money in the Senate. That distinction goes to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who has received more than $1 million from the industry, which is important to Texas. The Democratic co-sponsor of the Keystone bill, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, received about $200,000 from the industry -- the biggest beneficiary of oil and gas money among Democrats. But there were 24 Republicans who got larger contributions from the industry than him.
You see it doesn't matter that building the pipeline will do NOTHING to help America with its energy independence, or that it will only create about 35 permanent jobs, the important thing is that these politicians are getting fat and happy off of energy company largesse. And as long as that continues efforts to build this monstrosity will continue with only President Obama to stand in its way.
Hmm, now I'm beginning to wonder which other folks have been paid off by big oil. Such as radio talk show hosts, Fox News contributors, and former politicians turned reality show failures?
As I have mentioned before: you got an oil exec for a governor last time. Well, in North Dakota we sent a banker to the Senate.
ReplyDeleteHoeven and the Bakken have been a disaster for North Dakota.
And there is ONE inspector for thousands of miles of pipelines. Toxic brine spills north and south of Williston. The highest rents in the country. Drugs, prostitution, murder, rape.
But ne'mind all that.
The 'industry' will pay off Hoeven and he won't know a thing about it. He went to DC, so fk North Dakota.
You see it doesn't matter that building the pipeline will do NOTHING to help America with its energy independence, or that it will only create about 35 permanent jobs,
ReplyDelete------------------------
There is also a large supply and low demand, so there is no rush to disrupt the private land and natural areas. It's all about the $.
Mildred
You beat me to it, Mildred!
DeleteHappy Valentine's Day from a BIG fan of yours. :)
Happy Valentine's Day to you, too 9:55!!
DeleteMildred
I wonder how much Big Pharm sent to get their poisons approved. I wonder how much the Insurance Industry spent to get Obamacare approved.
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot, it's not corruption or unscrupulous if Obama approves.
^ troll
DeleteAnon 9:31-Fuck off Sarah
DeleteBig Pharma!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteAnon 9:31 is so full of shit I bet he has to be moved around on a cart like Jobba the Hutt
Delete9:31 AM How much has Fox News and Sarah Palin been paid by the Koch Brothers? How much are you paid to TROLL blogs 24/7? When will you offer any proof of any comments made by you?
DeleteActually Big Pharm was against ACA until it was implemented and they saw how many new customers were available.
DeleteYeah, old "energy is my baby" is pretty upfront about who is butterin' her bread.
ReplyDelete"My husband Todd started off with BP on the North Slope of Alaska. “We raised our kids with that North Slope lifestyle. Thank you so much for paying my bills for many years.”
From me:
This is an important issue, ya'll. There are petitions everywhere. We need to make sure that we let President Obama know how we feel about this one.
Energy was her baby, my keester.
DeleteShe quit that, too.
I got pissed when reading this. The oil industry is so blatant about this Keystone issue. Thank god President Obama will be using his veto pen!
ReplyDeleteWhat will it be like if a Republican gets elected POTUS?
We assuredly need Hillary Clinton to sit in the chair after President Obama has completed his second term! Badly!!!!!
Fuck the oil industry!
Not sure I can trust Hillary Clinton to wield a veto pen ... I fear she may be more likely to accept the oil $$$ instead.
DeleteI wonder how much Big Pharam paid the Dubya/Cheney administration for passing the Medicare Part D prescription plan? It cost taxpayers PLENTY. The repubs. are way ahead of ANY democratic politician when it comes to GREED, slimy tactics and corruption. President Obama is more intelligent and honest than ANY repub. president has EVER been. Coming here slamming our President will do you no good whatsoever, we know how great he is.
ReplyDelete10:01
DeleteComing here slamming our President will do you no good whatsoever, we know how great he is.
Well that certainly proves my point. Thank you.
" President Obama is more intelligent and honest than ANY repub. president has EVER been. Coming here slamming our President will do you no good whatsoever, we know how great he is."
Delete++++++++++++ etc.
Awww, 10:08 AM, were your widdle feewings hurt?
DeletePresident Barack HUSSEIN Obama is one of the greatest presidents we've ever had, most certainly in my lifetime. Hope you don't mind his middle name in caps....LOL
Whatever it took to get Obamacare passed was worth it. There are more insured in America than ever before and thanks to the states that accepted the Medicaid expansion there is less unpaid emergency care debt being added to the consumer insurance burden. The numbers don't lie.
Delete10:08 AM Who on your side of the aisle can handle the job? Huckabee the fat hatemonger? Paul the Fake Optometrist? Rubio the fake Cuban? Cruz the Fake Evangelist Canadian? Name somebody.
Delete11:15 AM You forgot the racist, evil and retarded, Sarah Palin! As well as being the Fake Mother and Wife!
DeleteAnd just how many OpEds did Senator Murkowski (R - CBCx2)
ReplyDeletewrite in support of Keystone saying what a great thing it would be for ALASKA?
Murkowski is full of shit, just like her Dad was!
DeleteShe almost didn't win election last go around and, hopefully, when she runs again she'll get her walking papers! Alaskans don't need her!
I present this as an oversimplified answer to this problem, so please understand that fact before attempting to pick it apart.
ReplyDeleteBasically because we want well educated people with good common sense in our National legislature we need to pay them competitively relative to the open market. That being said dollar amount is the six figures don't seem out of the way to me. No beyond that there will be rules out the ass to insure that these well paid legislators cannot receive ANY, ANY, ANy other form of remuneration for their services.
Get the gist of what I'm saying?
Absolutely!
DeleteI completely support paying legislators competitive salaries. But this will do nothing for the Keystone situation as those payments were campaign contributions, which means that I also support a radical overhaul of the campaign finance laws and radical restrictions on what amounts can be donated and by whom.
DeleteBut you see campaign contributions would be outside the law being that they can receive not ANY, ANY, ANY, remuneration outside their salaries. Get it?
DeleteLike I said An Oversimplification, but for sure campaign contributions would enter into he equation.
I understand your point, Jonathan. We do need campaign and lobby reform, if not salary reform. And it needs to be monitored extensively. I think there also should be educational requirements; difficult because as it is we are supposedly able to elect the common citizen to office. These days, I believe we need to have a basic testing of local state law and on the national level, some kind of testing for government/constitution knowledge.
DeleteI don't see how we can progress with the level of idiocy and corruption otherwise.
Mildred
You are assuming that paying competitive salaries would stop (republican/tea party) morons from voting (republican/tea party) immoral idiots into office.
DeleteNo one could then have an effective national campaign. And I completely support primaries and caucuses to select candidates and national campaign events and debates to increase candidates' visibility.
DeleteUnfortunately, many of the people voted in by the people are not well-educated with good common sense. Gohmert comes to mind immediately. We have the government we allowed in by failing to vote and by allowing outside interests to buy our elections.
DeleteI get the gist. But they are already making 6 figures ($174 k + / yr) for working less than 120 days in congress. Unless & until Citizens United is banned - corruption reigns. While both parties are susceptible to bribes the repubs have turned corruption into an art form.
ReplyDeleteywc2
I worked on the road for years as a tech and made close to their salaries and I can guarantee you that amount doesn't go anywhere near as far as you think it would, especially given the circles in which the have to travel. Upper six figures in the realm in which I'm speaking. Think in the area of high priced Drs and Lawyers.
ReplyDeleteFrom the cofpee, you can't make this up...doughnuts...
ReplyDeleteTing
You will be happy to know that VG and the Boss are on their way home. It will take them a couple of hours to get there because they are going to stop for doughnuts and for groceries, but all is well. The Boss did not have a stroke! VG will let you know more when he has a chance.
Hell, VG too the time to post that he thought his wife had a minor stroke, BEFORE heading to the hospital! Seems like an odd thing to do, if you suspect a stroke. And, what are the odds that his daughter JUST moved home a day ago and could take them? Who knows...
DeleteThe worst thing to eat IS donuts. His time is limited, I doubt it was a coincidence Say what you will, but I never poke fun at people in their twilight years. I've lived it with my own family many times, and it's hard.
DeleteAnd, on top of it all, every republican Senator from steel producing states voted AGAINST using USA produced steel in the pipeline.
ReplyDeleteAnd Canadian construction crews are coming down to do the work.
Good thing Todd made so much money when he USED to work on the slopes considering how much Vegas must be costing them with Bristol along for the ride showing off her 600plus dollar shoes and her Louis Vuitton purse, who knew a part time office assistant made that kind of money?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.enjoygram.com/bsmp2
OT, but so worth it! Bristle has an Instagram page and along with several fish lip selfies (remember when Sarah ranted about those?) and gang sign pics, there are $$$$ wallets & shoes....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.enjoygram.com/bsmp2