Americans for

Campaign Reform Fact Sheet

Money in Politics and the Environment

Energy Industry Influence in Washington

1. Energy Invests $3 billion in Washington Figure 1: Total Energy Industry Contributions, 1990-2008
‣ The energy industry, including oil and gas, electric
utilities, mining, and waste management, contributed $70,000,000
Soft Money Contribs
$455 million to federal candidates between 1990-2006 PAC Contribs
‣ The energy industry spent $2.3 billion to lobby the $60,000,000 Individual Contribs
federal government between 1998-2008
‣ 63% of energy industry contributions between 1990- $50,000,000
2008 came from PACs and soft money; the remaining
37% came in large individual contributions $40,000,000

‣ Members of the U.S. House and Senate received an

average of $43,658 and $161,423, respectively, in $30,000,000

2008 energy industry contributions as of July 28, 2008

$20,000,000

2. Energy Outspends Environment 20:1

$10,000,000
‣ The energy industry contributed $20 to federal candi-
dates for every $1 contributed by environmental $0
groups between 1990-2008 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
‣ The energy industry spent $225 million to lobby the
federal government in 2008 compared with $11 mil-
Figure 2: Contributions from Energy Sectors vs.
lion by environmental groups, a factor of 21:1
Environmental Organizations, 1990-2008
‣ The disparity in energy industry versus environmental
contributions to members of Congress rose to 30:1 in $22,500,000
the lead-up to landmark 2005 energy legislation
$20,000,000
Environment
3. Energy Targets Regulators & Incumbents $17,500,000
Mining
Electric Utilities
‣ 82% of energy industry contributions in 2008 were Oil & Gas
$15,000,000
given to incumbents in both parties
‣ Eight of the top ten House recipients in 2008 were $12,500,000
members of the House Natural Resources, Energy &
$10,000,000
Commerce, and Transportation committees responsi-
ble for energy policy; the remaining two top recipients $7,500,000
were members of senior leadership in both parties
$5,000,000
‣ Eight of the top ten Senate recipients in 2008 were
members of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources, $2,500,000
Environment & Public Works, and Transportation
$0
committees (excluding presidential candidates) 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
‣ The average contribution to top ten recipients was
$280,000 and $393,000 for House and Senate, respec-
tively, or between 3-6 times the congressional average
Figure 3: Lobbying Expenditures, 2008 Electric Util
Oil & Gas
4. Energy Money Follows Partisan Trends Misc. Energy
Mining
‣ Although overall energy industry contributions fa- Industry Spending Environment
vored Republicans between 1990-2008, the proportion 7%5%
Electric Utilities $94,579,735
given to each party followed partisan trends
‣ When Democrats controlled Congress, they received Oil & Gas $76,298,462 16% 40%
an average of 40% of total contributions, compared
with 26% when they were in the minority Misc. Energy $36,876,378
Mining $17,005,249 32%
Source: Center for Responsive Politics analysis of campaign finance
disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission, 1990-2008 Environment $11,095,130

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