Fracking Industry More Powerful Than One Thinks

A Common Cause report brings to light the natural gas industry is pumping millions to Congress in an attempt to make sure fracking regulation doesn't happen.


“Fracking” is a method used to obtain gas by mixing sand, water, and chemicals at high pressure. Ever since the 1980s there have been concerns about the pollution of nearby groundwater and was the subject of a 1987 study. It's well-known for being related to people being able to light their water on fire.


The report shows approximately $747-million was spent between the years of 2001-2011 to influence Congresspersons. More details from Common Cause are:

• From 2001 through June 2011, companies now engaged in fracking contributed $20.5 million to current members of Congress. Industry giving more than tripled from the 2001-02 election cycle, when $2 million was contributed, to the 2009-10 election cycle, when $6.8 million was contributed. These same companies spent $726 million on lobbying at the federal level from 2001 through September, 2011.
• Contributions heavily favored current members of Congress who voted for the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which exempted fracking from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Current members who voted for the bill received an average of $73,433, while those who voted against the bill received an average of $10,894.
• The natural gas industry’s fight against regulation has gotten important help at the state level from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). As documented in an August 2011 Common Cause report, ALEC generates and lobbies for hundreds of model bills every year despite its status as a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization. Prominent financial backers of ALEC’s activities include the American Petroleum Institute, ExxonMobil, and Koch Industries, owner of the largest network of natural gas- transmitting pipelines in the country.
  

These were taken from Commondreams.org


Common Cause President Bob Edgar said “Thanks to the Supreme Court and its Citizens United decision, the natural gas industry will be free to spend whatever it likes next year to elect a Congress that will do its bidding. The industry’s political investments already have largely freed it from government oversight. Controlling the flow of that money and other corporate spending on our elections is critical to protecting our environment for this and future generations.”


More will be detailed Friday after I go more in-depth with the PDF.