4 Facts About Money in Politics and the Environment

A look at the numbers behind the energy industry's influence in Washington:

1. Energy Invests $3 billion in Washington

• The energy industry, including oil and gas, electric utilities, mining, and waste management, contributed $455 million to federal candidates between 1990-2006
• The energy industry spent $2.3 billion to lobby the federal government between 1998-2008
• 63% of energy industry contributions between 1990-2008 came from PACs and soft money; the remaining 37% came in large individual contributions
• Members of the U.S. House and Senate received an average of $43,658 and $161,423, respectively, in 2008 energy industry contributions as of July 28, 2008

2. Energy Outspends Environment 20:1

• The energy industry contributed $20 to federal candidates for every $1 contributed by environmental groups between 1990-2008
• The energy industry spent $225 million to lobby the federal government in 2008 compared with $11 million by environmental groups, a factor of 21:1
• The disparity in energy industry versus environmental contributions to members of Congress rose to 30:1 in the lead-up to landmark 2005 energy legislation

3. Energy Targets Regulators & Incumbents

• 82% of energy industry contributions in 2008 were given to incumbents in both parties
• Eight of the top ten House recipients in 2008 were members of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Commerce, and Transportation committees responsible for energy policy; the remaining two top recipients were members of senior leadership in both parties
• Eight of the top ten Senate recipients in 2008 were members of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources, Environment & Public Works, and Transportation committees (excluding presidential candidates)
• The average contribution to top ten recipients was $280,000 and $393,000 for House and Senate, respectively, or between 3-6 times the congressional average

4. Energy Money Follows Partisan Trends

• Although overall energy industry contributions favored Republicans between 1990-2008, the proportion given to each party followed partisan trends
• When Democrats controlled Congress, they received an average of 40% of total contributions, compared with 26% when they were in the minority

SOURCE: Center for Responsive Politics analysis of campaign finance disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission, 1990-2008.

Photo by Thomas Hawk shared under Creative Commons License.