Most oil industry lobbyists in US worked for government

[Donnachaidh]

http://wsws.org/articles/2010/jul2010/lobb-j24.shtml

A Washington Post story published Wednesday highlighted data from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) that further demonstrates the incestuous relationship between the US government and the oil industry. Of the more than 600 lobbyists employed by the oil and gas industry in Washington, the article reveals, 430 once had jobs in the legislative or executive branch of government.

The Post notes that among the 430 oil and gas industry lobbyists who once worked in government are 18 former members of Congress (15 of whom are from oil-producing states), dozens of former presidential appointees, 2 former directors of Minerals Management Service (MMS), several top officials from the Bush White House, former federal inspectors, and aides and staffers to numerous congressmen and women.

The CRP numbers show that the oil and gas industry’s 600 lobbyists are one of the largest lobbying groups, and that its nearly $175 million spent on lobbying in 2009 was the third highest of all industries represented in Washington.

BP, responsible for the oil spill that is poisoning the Gulf of Mexico, is a particularly powerful player on Capitol Hill, what the CRP categorizes as a “heavy hitter.” The CRP’s website, OpenSecrets.org, details the multitude of ways the company attempts to influence government.

In 2009, BP spent nearly $16 million on lobbying and has spent $3.5 million this year, as of April 25, second only to ConocoPhillips in the oil industry. Of BP’s 37 lobbyists, 27 are shown to have worked within government in some capacity. BP-paid lobbyists have exerted influence on 13 different congressional bills just this year.


More at the link --

[mike r]

1. Same with defense and intelligence industry. We're owned and operated by corporations.

[Rex]

2. Well of course! This should be a huge crime...hey I know how bout

we treat white collar crime like working person crime! Scam your company and steal your employees 401k? Death penalty. The more you steal, the higher the degree of law.

I'm just kidding...we wouldn't want to interfere with the top 1% running this country...anything less would be unpatriotic!