Tag: politics

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) followed through on his promise to bring Sen. Ed Markey’s resolution on a Green New Deal to the Senate floor, in a blatant attempt to undermine the resolution’s momentum and divide Democrats on the ambitious piece of climate legislation. In response, the Democratic caucus remained mostly unified in voting “present” on the measure (a procedural move to show their objection to the cynical vote), while Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Angus King (I-ME) joined fossil fuel puppet Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and all 53 Republicans in voting against the Green New Deal.

The vote does not come as a surprise, as Republicans have openly mocked the Green New Deal and used scare tactics to influence public opinion, claiming the plan would ban hamburgers and citing a $93 trillion cost estimate that is not based in reality and was recently traced back to a Koch-backed think tank. Outside of climate denial fantasy-land, 13 Democratic senators and six 2020 Presidential contenders have endorsed the Green New Deal, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Increasingly, politicians are recognizing that real climate leadership means taking bold action to transform our economy and society while transitioning away from fossil fuel production and ensuring vulnerable communities are supported. While it is disappointing that Senate Democrats did not publicly take a stance on the Green New Deal resolution, it is important to highlight the overwhelming amount of fossil fuel money that influenced those senators who voted against the measure.

The Fossil Fuel Money Breakdown:¹

– Combined fossil fuel contributions to “no” votes against Green New Deal resolution: over $55,000,000
– Average lifetime fossil fuel contributions per “no” vote against Green New Deal resolution: $967,305
– Average lifetime fossil fuel contributions per “present” vote on Green New Deal resolution: $113,976

Fossil fuel interests have given over 11 times as much dirty money to senators voting against the Green New Deal resolution than to those who voted “present” to block McConnell’s cynical ploy. The vote underscores the power and influence that the oil, gas, and coal industry wields over our elected officials, and the importance of getting the corrupting influence of fossil fuel money out of our political system. A previous Oil Change U.S. analysis found that senators not co-sponsoring Sen. Markey’s Green New Deal resolution received more than seven times as much fossil fuel money as the co-sponsors.

Many senators up for election in 2020 have been vocal opponents of the Green New Deal, while at the same time collectively accepting over $3 million from the oil, gas, and coal industries:

–  Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ): $501,264 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO): $1,343,649 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. David Perdue (R-GA): $240,650 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA): $213,900 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): $325,084 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): $377,850 from the oil, gas, and coal industries

With this week’s industry-sponsored political theater out of the way, it’s time for Democrats to get serious about truly leading on climate in a way that winds down fossil fuel production to protect communities and the climate. Democrats must go beyond vocalizing vague support for ambitious climate action on the campaign trail, stand up to the fossil fuel industry, and support the bold action required to prevent climate catastrophe. The science is clear – we need a courageous Green New Deal that ends handouts to Big Oil, Gas, and Coal and prioritizes a managed decline of fossil fuel production.

Want to get involved in the ongoing fight to get fossil fuel money out of our politics? Here’s what’s next:

Tell Green New Deal co-sponsors to take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.
Tell 2020 Presidential contenders to take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.

[1] “Oil, Gas, & Coal Contributions,” Center for Responsible Politics, 02-01-19

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) followed through on his promise to bring Sen. Ed Markey’s resolution on a Green New Deal to the Senate floor, in a blatant attempt to undermine the resolution’s momentum and divide Democrats on the ambitious piece of climate legislation. In response, the Democratic caucus remained mostly unified in voting “present” on the measure (a procedural move to show their objection to the cynical vote), while Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Angus King (I-ME) joined fossil fuel puppet Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and all 53 Republicans in voting against the Green New Deal.

The vote does not come as a surprise, as Republicans have openly mocked the Green New Deal and used scare tactics to influence public opinion, claiming the plan would ban hamburgers and citing a $93 trillion cost estimate that is not based in reality and was recently traced back to a Koch-backed think tank. Outside of climate denial fantasy-land, 13 Democratic senators and six 2020 Presidential contenders have endorsed the Green New Deal, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).

Increasingly, politicians are recognizing that real climate leadership means taking bold action to transform our economy and society while transitioning away from fossil fuel production and ensuring vulnerable communities are supported. While it is disappointing that Senate Democrats did not publicly take a stance on the Green New Deal resolution, it is important to highlight the overwhelming amount of fossil fuel money that influenced those senators who voted against the measure.

The Fossil Fuel Money Breakdown:¹

– Combined fossil fuel contributions to “no” votes against Green New Deal resolution: over $55,000,000
– Average lifetime fossil fuel contributions per “no” vote against Green New Deal resolution: $967,305
– Average lifetime fossil fuel contributions per “present” vote on Green New Deal resolution: $113,976

Fossil fuel interests have given over 11 times as much dirty money to senators voting against the Green New Deal resolution than to those who voted “present” to block McConnell’s cynical ploy. The vote underscores the power and influence that the oil, gas, and coal industry wields over our elected officials, and the importance of getting the corrupting influence of fossil fuel money out of our political system. A previous Oil Change U.S. analysis found that senators not co-sponsoring Sen. Markey’s Green New Deal resolution received more than seven times as much fossil fuel money as the co-sponsors.

Many senators up for election in 2020 have been vocal opponents of the Green New Deal, while at the same time collectively accepting over $3 million from the oil, gas, and coal industries:

–  Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ): $501,264 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO): $1,343,649 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. David Perdue (R-GA): $240,650 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA): $213,900 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): $325,084 from the oil, gas, and coal industries
– Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): $377,850 from the oil, gas, and coal industries

With this week’s industry-sponsored political theater out of the way, it’s time for Democrats to get serious about truly leading on climate in a way that winds down fossil fuel production to protect communities and the climate. Democrats must go beyond vocalizing vague support for ambitious climate action on the campaign trail, stand up to the fossil fuel industry, and support the bold action required to prevent climate catastrophe. The science is clear – we need a courageous Green New Deal that ends handouts to Big Oil, Gas, and Coal and prioritizes a managed decline of fossil fuel production.

Want to get involved in the ongoing fight to get fossil fuel money out of our politics? Here’s what’s next:

Tell Green New Deal co-sponsors to take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.
Tell 2020 Presidential contenders to take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.

[1] “Oil, Gas, & Coal Contributions,” Center for Responsible Politics, 02-01-19

In response to Mitch McConnell calling for a vote on Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) Green New Deal resolution, Oil Change U.S. conducted a dirty energy money analysis between fossil fuel donations to Congress and those co-sponsoring Sen. Markey’s Green New Deal resolution. Alex Kaufman at the HuffingtonPost reported on the findings in a front-page story, highlighting that “Senators Not Backing Green New Deal Received On Average 7 Times As Much Fossil Fuel Cash.”

As outlined in the HuffingtonPost piece, the 88 senators who have declined to endorse the resolution have accepted nearly $59 million from the fossil fuel industry, as opposed to just over $1 million going to the 12 current cosponsors of the resolution. On average, that amounts to about $670,000 per nonbacker, or more than 7 times the dirty energy money taken by those declining to support the resolution than the average of those cosponsoring the Green New Deal.

Our analysis, using data from the Center for Responsible Politics, included publicly available filings dating as far back as 1989 for current members in Congress, and included donations from both corporate political action committees and individuals who gave $200 or more.

The key numbers breakdown:

• Combined fossil fuel contributions to Senators not cosponsoring the Green New Deal: nearly $59,000,000
• Average lifetime dirty energy money per Senator not cosponsoring the Green New Deal: $669,930
• Average lifetime dirty energy money per Senator cosponsoring the Green New Deal: $90,295

As David Turnbull of Oil Change U.S. told HuffingtonPost, “The Green New Deal shows the level of ambition that climate and energy policy could have if Big Oil, Gas, and Coal’s grip on Washington were weakened. The cosponsors of the Green New Deal have by and large bucked the influence of the out-of-control fossil fuel industry, and that shows in their willingness to stand up for bold climate solutions like what we see in the Green New Deal resolutions.”

This confirms the gripping influence that the industry has on Washington’s politics, and reveals the importance of getting fossil fuel money out of our political system. While the dubious forces working against a Green New Deal seek to drown our voices with dirty money, we must encourage our elected representatives to reject this toxic influence and sign the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, prioritizing the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits. Thus far, 5 co-sponsors of Sen. Markey’s resolution have signed the pledge, with over 40 members Congress and 1,300 candidates nationwide backing the pledge.

Read more about our analysis featured in the Huffington Post:
“Senators Not Backing Green New Deal Received On Average 7 Times As Much Fossil Fuel Cash,” Huffington Post, 02-21-2019