Big Energy Money in Politics
Corporate money plays a dominating role in politics as energy companies and their lobbying associations line congressional pockets with millions of dollars in campaign contributions. Legislation governing energy and climate change has been weakened or destroyed by these interests at the expense of our environment and consumers - Congress needs to clean up its act. Public Citizen is dedicated to getting the "dirty" money out of politics. Our work helps to shed light on the lobbyists and corporations that continually aid in the striking down of effective clean energy and climate legislation.
Take Action: Stop Taxpayer Handouts to Fossil Fuel Industry.
Sign on to Support the End Polluters Welfare Act.
BP Lobbyist Exposed: Since the beginning of 2009, BP has employed 49 lobbyists at a cost of $19.5 million. Of these 49 lobbyists, 35 – or 71 percent – previously held federal positions. View BP lobby and campaign contribution data here.
Take Action: The corporate control of our government—in particular, the influence of oil and gas money—has endangered our environment and stifled the shift we must make to a clean energy future. The situation in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragic example of what can result from this corrupt political process. Public Citizen and its allies are building public pressure on our elected officials to give their BP money—and all their oil and gas industry contributions—to the Gulf recovery effort.
Sign Public Citizen’s “Congress: You Have Oil on Your Hands” Petition
Learn More: Want to follow the dirty money trail? Our partners at Oil Change International have developed an interactive tool that tracks the flow of oil, gas, and coal money in U.S. Congress. Find out which energy companies are pumping their dirty money into politics and which politicians are receiving it.