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Rhetoric: “We [the oil and gas lobby] are so outclassed by the green lobby. They’ve got a lot more money and a lot more horsepower.”

Jan 30, 2013

Issue: Oil & Gas
Subject: Lobbying & Politics
By Center for Western Priorities

RHETORIC:

“We [the oil and gas lobby] are so outclassed by the green lobby. They’ve got a lot more money and a lot more horsepower.”

Western Energy Alliance’s Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Kathleen Sgamma speaking on E&ETV about upcoming Interior rules on fracking. [E&E News, 1/30/13].

REALITY:

The oil and gas industry’s political spending dwarfs that of the environmental community.

In 2011, oil and gas interests spent more than $149.1 million on lobbying, as opposed to environmental groups’ $18 million, marking an eight to one difference. [Open Secrets Oil and Gas Lobbying accessed 1/30/13, Open Secrets Environmental Lobbying accessed 1/30/13]

During the 2012 election cycle, more than $69.5 million was donated to federal candidates by industry interests, which is more than four times the $17 million environmental groups contributed. [Open Secrets Oil and Gas Contribution Trends accessed 1/30/13, Open Secrets Environmental Group Contribution Trends accessed 1/30/13]

Moreover, industry groups spent more than $270 million on television ads to influence federal elections, all within in a two-month period. [ThinkProgress, 11/7/12]

Read the full blog post

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