Roberts' Votes in the Senate Helped Create Four Dollar Gas
In
an effort to draw attention away from his own history of voting
repeatedly against renewable energy tax incentives and for billion
dollar tax breaks for big oil companies, Pat Roberts’ latest
attack ad tries to pinpoint the rising gas prices on one person
– his opponent.
“The last thing Pat Roberts can afford is to have voters
asking questions about his record. But the pattern is clear. Pat
Roberts will always vote for Big Oil and then use their campaign
contributions to attack his opponent so he doesn't have to defend
his own actions,” said Kansas Democratic Party Executive
Director Mike Gaughan.
In just the last three years:
Roberts Voted Against Ending Market Speculation to
Lower Gas Prices. In July 2008, Roberts voted against
strengthening the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, limiting
speculation by traders who are not trading actual physical petroleum
products, closing the "London Loophole" for energy commodities
trading, and enhancing transparency and accountability in the
energy commodities market. Passage of the bill would have been
a major first step in reducing the price of gas at the pump. [Vote
184, 8/25/08]
Roberts Helped Protect $5 Billion Big Oil Tax Windfall.
Tax loopholes that saved the oil industry $5 billion were removed
from the original Senate version of the GOP tax reconciliation
bill in February 2006, but after heavy lobbying by the industry,
Congressional negotiators reinserted them into the final bill.
The $5 billion tax break for big-oil could have been used instead
to partially offset the increase in middle class taxes. Roberts
voted for the final tax bill with the big-oil tax breaks. [Republican
Policy Committee, 2/7/06; Washington Post, 4/26/06; Joint Tax
Committee, 5/9/06; Vote 118, 5/11/06]
Roberts Voted to Gut Big Oil Tax Package And Let Big
Oil Keep Their Billions. In June 2007, the Senate
considered a bipartisan package to provide tax incentives for
alternative energy development by taxing big oil and gas companies.
But Roberts voted to impose a trigger that would gut the package
and let the big oil companies keep the $29 billion they would
have been forced to give up to fund alternative energy. [Senate
Finance Committee Markup, 6/19/07; Dow Jones, 6/19/07; AP, 6/19/07;
Chicago Tribune, 6/21/07; Vote #222, 6/21/07]
Roberts Voted Against Imposing Windfall Profits Tax
On Oil Companies. In 2005, Roberts voted against
an amendment that would have imposes a temporary windfall profit
tax on crude oil and to rebate the tax collected back to the American
consumer. Under the amendment, when taxes spiked above $40 per
barrel, a 50% tax on oil company profits would have been imposed
with the revenue returned directly to American drivers. [Vote
331, 11/17/05]
Roberts has also lined the pockets of his campaign with money
from Big Oil interest groups, taking in more than $300,000 in
the last two years and earning him 9th place in the list of Senate
candidates who have profited most from Big Oil contributions.
“During his last 40 years in Washington, Sen. Roberts has
ignored struggling Kansas families and instead favored $4 gas
and Big Oil billionaires – the same billionaires who have
been lining the pockets of his campaign,” Gaughan said.
Sebelius Endorses Donald Betts Jr. for
Congress
Gov.
Kathleen Sebelius has endorsed Donald Betts Jr. for Congress citing
his leadership on issues important to Kansans.
“Don Betts has been a great leader in the Kansas Legislature
where he fought for better schools, more jobs and a clean energy
future,” said Sebelius.
“It’s time the people of the 4th District had a representative
in Washington who puts people before politics, and that’s
why I’m endorsing Donald Betts for the United States Congress."
Betts is running for the 4th Congressional seat currently held
by Todd Tiahrt (R), who has been in office since 1994.
Betts has been actively working for Kansans since 2002, when
he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. He went
on to serve in the Senate, bridging party lines to focus on the
important issues that affect everyone including support for education
through the Workforce Kansas Quick Careers.
Betts took a stand against the practices of genocide with Senate
Substitute for HB 2457 which was signed into law divesting Kansas
Public Employee Retirement Funds from Darfur.
“It has been my pleasure to represent Kansans in Topeka
but I believe that now is the time to make their voices heard
in Washington, D.C.,” said Betts.
“Our nation is in an economic crisis and people are hurting
– it’s time to make some choices to make our country
strong again and to be fair to everyone, not just the special
interests.”
Barack Obama to Accept
Presidential Nomination in Front of a Crowd of More than 75,000
Breaking
the mold of traditional political Conventions, the Democratic
National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced that Senator
Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination for President
of the United States at Denver's INVESCO Field at Mile High. INVESCO
Field can accommodate more than 75,000 people and will be the
site of the 2008 Democratic Convention's final day of programming
on Thursday, August 28, 2008.
"Barack Obama's campaign for change has inspired millions
of Americans and brought people into the political process who
might never have been involved," said Convention Co-Chair
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. "This change in the Convention
program will allow thousands of first-time participants a chance
to take part. I can't think of a better Convention finale for
our nominee who has made reaching out to voters a hallmark of
his campaign."
"Senator Obama and the DNCC have truly brought the community
into the Convention," said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter,
Jr. "This decision will enable thousands of residents from
Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West and across the nation to witness
history first hand. What a way to fire up our grassroots activists
as we head into the fall campaign."
Primetime Convention activities Monday, August 25 through Wednesday,
August 27 will continue to be held at the Pepsi Center. The final
day of the Convention on Thursday, August 28, including the nomination
acceptance speech of Senator Barack Obama, will be held at INVESCO
Field at Mile High, also located in downtown Denver. Daytime Convention
events, including meetings of the Democratic caucuses and councils
will continue to be held at the Colorado Convention Center.
The DNCC announced today that a special block of "Community"
credentials will be reserved for Colorado residents for Thursday
night's program at INVESCO Field. Details about how to sign up
and receive a "Community Credential" for the last night
of the Convention will be released in the coming weeks.
"This is the type of Convention people will want to experience
together with family, friends and neighbors, and we hope this
move enables thousands of Americans to come together, experience
history and put Senator Obama on the path to victory in November,"
Daughtry added.
July 25, 2008
MEMORANDUM
To: Interested Parties
From: DNC Communications
Date: July 25, 2008
Re: Another Bad Week For McCain - Apparently it CAN Get Worse
================================================================
Another
week of bad news, bad reviews and campaign chaos for the McCain
campaign. The only change: the campaign's increasingly desperate
response.
In what has become a recurring theme, McCain's week was dominated
by foreign policy gaffes, misleading attacks, terrible reviews
and new polls showing him lagging far behind among key groups
of voters. Instead of addressing those challenges, the McCain
campaign chose to lash out at the media and launch desperate new
attacks. Despite starting his general election campaign by pledging
"to conduct a respectful campaign" and run "the
most positive kind of campaign," McCain has resorted to the
kind of negative attacks that would make even Karl Rove blush--capped
off with McCain himself questioning Senator Obama's patriotism.
As observers noted, McCain's new line of attack "smacks
of desperation," "undermines his brand" and makes
him look "bitter to the point of nasty." Said Howard
Fineman: "hard to imagine things looking much bleaker."
MCCAIN'S CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES MORE DESPERATE NEGATIVE ATTACKS
McCain Ad Claiming Obama Is Responsible For Rising Gas
Prices Is "Nonsense… Absurd." FactCheck.Org
wrote, "A Full Tank of Nonsense: McCain ad says Obama's the
guy to thank for emptying our wallets at the filling station.
We say that's ridiculous. McCain's new ad accuses Obama of keeping
gas prices high, all by himself. That's absurd, and McCain knows
it - he has said repeatedly that our current problems were '30
years in the making.' The ad also tells us that gas prices are
high because 'some in Washington are still saying no to drilling
in America.' Not true. The federal government's estimate is that
if the moratorium on offshore drilling were lifted today, it would
be 2030 before we'd see a noticeable effect on supply and prices.
For the same reason, it's simply not true that drilling more now
will 'rescue our family budgets.'" [Fact Check.Org, 7/22/08]
McCain Ad Claiming Obama Voted Against Troop Funding
Is "Oversimplified To The Point Of Being Seriously Misleading."
FactCheck.Org wrote, "Prior to the sole 2007 vote
cited by the McCain campaign as justification for this ad, Obama
voted for all war-funding bills that had come before the Senate
since 2005, when he was sworn in. So did all other Senate Democrats,
except for a few absences. As recently as April 2007, Obama voted
in favor of funding U.S. troops again, but this time Democrats
added a non-binding call to withdraw them from Iraq. McCain (who
was absent for the vote) urged the president to veto that funding
measure, because of the withdrawal language. President Bush did
veto it, and McCain applauded Bush's veto. Based on those facts,
it would be literally true to say that 'McCain urged a veto of
funding for our troops.' But that would be oversimplified to the
point of being seriously misleading, which is exactly the problem
with McCain's ad. Furthermore, by saying that 'John McCain has
always supported our troops,' the ad insinuates that Obama doesn't.
But funding a war and supporting troops are not necessarily the
same thing. If they were, we'd reiterate our point above, that
both men expressed a willingness to see a war-funding bill killed
unless it met their conditions." [FactCheck.Org, 7/22/08]
McCain Said That "Obama Would Rather Lose A War
In Order To Win A Political Campaign"; Time Columnist Joe
Klein Wrote That That Is The Most "Scurrilous Statement"
He's Ever Seen, "Smacks Of Desperation" And "Renews
Questions About Whether McCain Has The Right Temperament For The
Presidency." "John McCain said this today in
Rochester, New Hampshire: 'This is a clear choice that the American
people have. I had the courage and the judgment to say I would
rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. It seems to
me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political
campaign.' This is the ninth presidential campaign I've covered.
I can't remember a more scurrilous statement by a major party
candidate. It smacks of desperation. It renews questions about
whether McCain has the right temperament for the presidency. How
sad." [Joe Klein, Time Magazine, 7/22/08]
McCain Web Ad Falsely Linked Obama To Castro.
The Politico noted that a new McCain web ad displays side-by-side
photos of Obama and Fidel Castro, with the caption: "FIDEL
CASTRO Thinks he [Obama] is 'the most advanced candidate.'"
[Politico, 7/24/08]
McCain Adviser Said That The Obama Campaign's Attempt
To Point Out That McCain Had His Facts Wrong On The Anbar Awakening
Undermines "The American Troops And Their Sacrifice And Their
Effort." According to Talking Points Memo, "Now
we have a McCain surrogate explaining away McCain's flubbing of
the Anbar Awakening and surge timing by saying that asking for
the truth about Iraq undermines the troops." McCain adviser
Nancy Pfotenhauer said "Barack Obama and his supporters can
try to litigate what came first or what was crucial, but that's
really an attempt to undermine the significance and the impact
of the American troops and their sacrifice and their effort."
[Talking Points Memo, 7/23/08]
The McCain Campaign Implied That Obama's Commitment
To Preventing Genocide Was Not Sincere And Attacked Him For His
Comments At An Appearance At The Israeli Holocaust Memorial.
"The McCain campaign implied on Wednesday that Barack Obama's
commitment to preventing a future genocide was not sincere, attacking
the Democratic candidate during his appearance at the Israeli
Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem. In an early morning press release,
entitled Obama on Genocide," McCain aide Tucker Bounds emailed
reporters a quote from Obama's appearance in which the Illinois
Democrat reiterated the cry "never again." He followed
that quote with one taken a year ago from an interview that the
Senator gave with the Associated Press in which he said that genocide
or humanitarian crises were not a prerequisite for keeping U.S.
troops in Iraq." [Huffington Post, 7/23/08; McCain release,
7/23/08]
McCain Said Obama Has The "Most Extreme" Record
In The Senate And When Asked If He Though McCain Was A Socialist,
Said "I Don't Know." McCain said Obama had
the "most extreme" record in the Senate. Asked later
if he thought Obama was an extremist, McCain said: "His voting
record … is more to the left than the announced socialist
in the United States Senate, Bernie Sanders of Vermont."
Does McCain think Obama is a socialist? "I don't know. All
I know is his voting record, and that's what people usually judge
their elected representatives by." [Kansas City Star, 7/18/08]
McCain Aides Said They Have Every Intention Of Continuing
Their Attacks On Obama On His Overseas Trip. "Senator
John McCain tends to follow the old adage 'politics ends at the
water's edge,' but his aides tell CNN they have every intention
of continuing their attacks on Obama while the presumptive Democratic
nominee is on his overseas trip." [CNN, 7/19/08]
FLASHBACK: MCCAIN PLEDGED TO RUN A POSITIVE AND RESEPCTFUL
CAMPAIGN
McCain Said "I Want The Best Kind Of Campaign And
Most Positive Kind Of Campaign." McCain, on the
NC GOP ads attacking Rev. Wright, said "Voters can take into
account any issue they feel Is relevant to themselves; I certainly
have no control over that. But I have my agenda, and I think this
ad is offensive to some and I would like it taken down. I want
the best kind of campaign and most positive kind of campaign.
McCain reiterated that he can't control the N.C. GOP, but he can
ask them to take it down." [National Review, 4/25/08]
McCain: "I Have Pledged To Conduct A Respectful
Campaign." McCain: "I have pledged to conduct
a respectful campaign. And I have urged, time after time, various
entities within the Republican Party to also do that." [CNN,
4/28/08]
MORE BAD REVIEWS
Klein: McCain Attack "Smacks of Desperation."
"This is the ninth presidential campaign I've covered. I
can't remember a more scurrilous statement by a major party candidate.
It smacks of desperation. It renews questions about whether McCain
has the right temperament for the presidency. How sad." [Time,
Swampland Blog, 7/22/08]
Slate: McCain's Indiscriminate Attacks Distracting Him
From Making His Case. "McCain is attacking too much
and indiscriminately. The barrage undermines his brand, takes
time away from telling voters what he might do for them, and looks
awfully old-timey in a year when voters want a new brand. …
The gas-prices ad--and the equally disingenuous one on tax cuts--dismantles
[his] reputation. In 2000, McCain said that spinning is lying.
By that standard, these claims are what? Double-lying. Super lying?"
[Slate, 7/22/08]
Fineman: "Hard to Imagine Things Looking Much Bleaker."
"McCain needs all the pluck (and luck) he can muster to win
this presidential race. As Barack Obama embarks on his global
coronation tour, it's hard to imagine things looking much bleaker
for his Republican rival. McCain thought that by baiting Obama
into a tour of Iraq, he'd lure the Democratic contender into a
trap. Indeed it was a trap -- for McCain." [MSNBC, 7/22/08]
New York Times: McCain is Getting Coverage--Its Just
Bad Coverage. "It wasn't a television blackout of
John McCain; it was worse: split-screen contrasts that at times
made it seem as if Barack Obama was on a state visit while back
home his opponent chafed at the perks and privileges of an incumbent
commander in chief…McCain aides haven't been nearly as creative
on his behalf: their stagecraft has been notably unflattering
to the candidate. While Mr. Obama was shown striding across military
tarmacs and inspecting troops standing at attention, Mr. McCain
on Monday was seen being driven around in a golf cart by former
President George Bush in the resort town of Kennebunkport, Me.
Later, the two men spoke to reporters side by side at a waterfront,
and they looked more like fellow members of a Past Presidents'
Club than a party elder passing the torch to his political heir."
[New York Times, 7/23/08]
Michael Crowley: McCain Looks "Stiff, Uncomfortable,"
"Bitter to the Point of Nasty." "I can
hardly believe how badly John McCain is getting routed in the
television-imagery game. As Obama saunters through the Middle
East, looking cool and relaxed, McCain has been holding events
where he looks stiff, uncomfortable, and, in his bracing claim
today that Obama would lose a war to win an election, sounding
bitter to the point of nasty." [New Republic, The Stump blog,
7/22/08]
The Truth about Obama and
McCain on Energy
Today
John McCain is continuing to campaign on an energy plan that won't
actually help with energy costs and launching more false attacks
against Barack Obama, attacks that have already been debunked.
What McCain won't discuss is that his recent support for off-shore
drilling, and his previous record of opposing renewable fuels
and failing to crack down on excessive profits, may not help American
families struggling with increased energy costs, but have benefited
McCain's campaign, with thousands more in donations from big oil.
Gov. Schwarzenegger put it best: Anyone Who Tells You
That Ending The Ban On Offshore Drilling Will Lower Gas Prices
"Anytime Soon Is Blowing Smoke." "In a
strong rebuke Thursday of lifting the ban on U.S. offshore oil
drilling, California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed
to knock the standard-bearers of his party: President Bush and
Arizona Sen. John McCain. Schwarzenegger, a long critic of his
party of the environment, used surprisingly frank language to
buck politicians who support lifting the 27-year-old ban of offshore
drilling. He did not criticize anyone by name. 'Politicians have
been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing
energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing
biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling,
it goes on and on the list,' Schwarzenegger said. … 'But,
anyone who tells you this will lower our gas prices anytime soon
is blowing smoke.'" [ABC News , 6/26/08]
DRILLING WOULD TAKE NEARLY A DECADE TO SHOW BENEFITS
Bush's Plan To Allow Drilling Offshore Would Take, According
To Experts, At Least Seven And Probably 10 Years "Before
Any Benefits Were Apparent." "President Bush
proposed Wednesday to allow drilling off U.S. coastlines as part
of a plan to boost oil supplies, but his plan is likely to go
nowhere because of a reluctant Democratic-majority Congress, which
fears environmental costs. Even if U.S. coastal waters were opened
to exploration, experts agree that it would take at least seven
and probably 10 years before any benefits were apparent."
[McClatchy, 6/18/08]
McCain Admitted His Offshore Drilling Proposal Would
Have Mostly "Psychological" Benefits. "Yesterday,
McCain admitted that his offshore drilling proposal would probably
have mostly 'psychological' benefits, NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
reports. At a town hall in Fresno that primarily focused on energy
issues, McCain was asked a question about the price of gas and
the viability of various short-term solutions. 'In the short term
I'd like to give you a little relief for the summer on the gas
tax,' McCain began, referring to his controversial proposal to
temporarily suspend the federal tax on gasoline. But then he made
a surprisingly candid admission: 'I don't see an immediate relief,
but I do see that exploitation of existing reserves that may exist
-- and in view of many experts that do exist off our coasts --
is also a way that we need to provide relief. Even though it may
take some years, the fact that we are exploiting those reserves
would have psychological impact that I think is beneficial.'"
[MSNBC's First Read , 6/24/08]
McCain Adviser Holtz-Eakin Admitted That Increasing Domestic
Oil Production Would Have No Immediate Impact On Gas Prices. According
to the Los Angeles Times, McCain's senior policy adviser Douglas
Holtz-Eakin told reporters on a conference call that, "allowing
new offshore drilling would have no immediate impact on supplies
or gas prices. But, he said, 'there is an important element in
signaling to world oil markets that we are serious.'" [Los
Angeles Times, 6/18/08]
MCCAIN'S DRILLING PLAN EARNED HIM BIG MONEY FROM BIG
OIL
Oil And Gas Industry Donated $1.1 Million To McCain In June;
McCain Raised Majority Of Funds After Proposing To Lift Ban On
Offshore Drilling. According to the Washington Post, "Oil
and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million
to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his
June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with
$116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May…
McCain delivered the speech before heading to Texas for a series
of fundraisers with energy industry executives, and the day after
the speech he raised $1.3 million at a private luncheon and reception
at the San Antonio Country Club, according to local news accounts."
[Washington Post, 7/27/2008]
MCCAIN REFUSES TO CRACK DOWN ON PROFITS MADE BY OIL COMPANIES
McCain's Tax Plan Would Save Largest American Oil Companies
Nearly $4 Billion. According to the Center For American
Progress, "The centerpiece of Sen. McCain's plan to stimulate
the economy -- actually, the whole plan -- is large tax cuts for
corporations. It would deliver $3.8 billion in tax cuts to the
five largest American oil companies, according to an analysis
released today by the Center for American Progress Action Fund."
According to the Center For American Progress' Analysis, Exxon/Mobil
would save as much as $1.2 Billion under McCain's corporate tax
cut. [Work Room, Thinkprogress.org, 3/27/2008]
MCCAIN HAS ALSO REFUSED TO REQUIRE OIL COMPANIES TO INVEST
IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
McCain Said He Would Not Require Oil Companies To Use
Their Profits To "Pursue Alternative Energy."
When asked in a republican primary debate if he would "require
the oil industry to use its profits to help pursue alternative
energy" McCain responded, "I would not require them
to. But I think that public pressure and a lot of other things,
including a national security requirement that we reduce and eliminate
our dependence on foreign oil -- and we stop the contamination
of our atmosphere, which is -- and climate change, which is real
and is taking place." [GOP Primary Debate, 10/9/07]
TOP MCCAIN ADVISORS LOBBY FOR OIL & GAS COMPANIES
Wayne Berman Serves As National Finance Committee Chair,
Campaign Vice Chairman And As Senior Adviser To McCain's Campaign.
In March 2008, the McCain campaign announced that John
Green "a founding partner of what is now Ogilvy Government
Relations" would take a leave from lobbying to join the campaign
full-time as its Capitol Hill liaison. John Green's colleague
Wayne Berman, a Bush "Super Ranger" serves co-chairman
of McCain's national finance committee, as well as the campaign's
vice chairman and as a senior adviser. Additionally, Berman also
handles congressional outreach and "talks to lawmakers on
McCain's behalf." [New York Times, 2/7/08; Financial Times,
11/27/07; Washington Post, 11/20/07; The Hill, 7/19/07; The Politico,
3/4/08; John McCain Supporters, http://www.johnmccain.com/Supporters/
]
While Green Will Be Stepping Down From Position At The
Federalist Group, Berman Continues Lobbying For Clients, Despite
His Roles With The McCain Campaign. Despite his plethora
of roles within the McCain campaign, Berman -- managing director
of the all Republican Federalist Group -- continues to lobby lawmakers
for his "impressive client list," which includes the
American Petroleum Institute, Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group,
UnitedHealth, AT&T, Verizon, Viacom, Monsanto, and American
International Group. [Federalist Group Lobbying Disclosure Records
2008 Year-End Reports; US News & World Reports, 5/28/07; The
Hill, 3/8/06]
Berman And Green Lobbied For Chevron And Hess. Berman
and Green, working for Ogilvy Government Relations/Federalist
Group, both lobbied for Chevron Texaco and Amerada Hess oil/gas
companies, earning their lobbying firm over $1,000,000 for their
efforts. Their lobbying pertained to: comprehensive energy legislation,
the Alaska pipeline, oil and gas accounting, foreign tax credits,
measures related to price gouging, offshore exploration, and the
2005 and 2007 energy bills. [Federalist Group Lobbying Disclosures
2002 - 2007, Senate Office of Public Records]
John Hess, CEO Of Amerada Hess Oil Company Raises Money For
McCain. John Hess, the CEO of Amerada Hess (aka Hess Corp.)
- a client of Berman & Green's -- fundraises for McCain's
presidential campaign. According to a recently released list,
Hess is classified as an "Innovator," meaning he has
raised at least $100,000 for McCain's president effort. He also
serves as a co-chairman of McCain's National Finance Committee.
[Washington Post, "The Fix," 4/18/08; McCain Victory
2008 5/7 NYC Finance Reception, https://secure.donationreport.com/productlist.html?key=OTXXMNUV7ORW
, accessed 5/1/08; "John B. Hess," Forbes.com, http://www.forbes.com/static/pvp2005/LIR7YAE.htm
]
Green And Berman Brought In Over $1 Million To Lobby
For American Petroleum Institute, Gas And Oil Industry Trade Association.
From mid-2002 until 2008, Green brought $1,430,000 to
Ogilvy/Federalist Group to lobby for the American Petroleum Institute
[API], the trade group representing the oil & companies. Berman,
who began lobbying for API in 2004, brought in $1,100,000 from
the oil trade group. [API/Federalist Group Lobbying Disclosures
2002 - 2008, Senate Office of Public Records]
Both Berman And Green Lobbied On Price Gouging Prevention
Act. According to lobbying disclosure forms, both Berman and
Green - on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute - lobbied
on HR 1252, the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act. [API/Federalist
Group Lobbying Disclosures 2002 - 2008, Senate Office of Public
Records]
McCain Energy Advisor Eric Burgeson Simultaneously Lobbied
For Energy Companies While Counseling Campaign. "Republican
presidential contender John McCain on Thursday fired an energy
policy advisor who lobbies the federal government on behalf of
energy clients, citing a new policy that seeks to quash influence
peddling. 'The campaign recently severed ties with Eric Burgeson
due to a new campaign policy that prohibits any registered lobbyist
from participating in any policy discussions on the subjects in
which they work,' said McCain spokesman Jeff Sadosky…McCain's
former energy advisor joined the firm of Barbour Griffith &
Rogers in Washington in 2006 after serving as the chief of staff
at the Department of Energy. Burgeson's energy clients include
Southern Company, which operates electric utilities and nuclear-power
plants in the Southeast…Last month, Burgeson answered questions
from readers about energy and the environment at washington post.com."
[Miami Herald, 5/16/08]
Burgeson Lobbying on Numerous Energy-Related Issues
While Advising Campaign. While Burgeson was advising
McCain on energy policy, he was lobbying for Breakthrough Fuels
LLC, the Flambeau River Biorefinery, & Southern Company
Services on a variety of energy related issues, including: fuel
technology management; biorefinery & bioenergy issues; renewable
energy legislation; deregulation; climate change; Environmental
Protection Agency regulations; Warner-Lieberman climate change
bill. [Burgeson/BGR Lobbying Disclosures, Senate Office of Public
Records]
McCain's Hand-Picked RNC Chairman Lobbied For Offshore
Drilling. For six years, Frank Donatelli - whom McCain
appointed as Deputy Chairman of the RNC - lobbied on behalf of
energy company Dominion Resources, earning his firm $380,000.
According to lobbying disclosure, Donatelli lobbied on offshore
drilling legislation, pipeline safety, energy reform legislation,
and Yucca Mountain nuclear storage. Additionally, Donatelli also
lobbied on issues regarding IRC (Internal Revenue Code) Section
29, which - having been "established by Congress through
the Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980" - provides
for a tax credit "for producing fuel from a nonconventional
source." [IRS Bulletin, 4/25/05; Donatelli/McGuireWoods Disclosures,
Senate Office of Public Records]
McCain's Top Foreign Policy Advisor Lobbied For BP Amoco.
From 1999 until 2000, McCain's top foreign policy advisor Randy
Scheunemann lobbied for BP Amoco, for which his firm was paid
$120,000. Scheunemann lobbied on issues related to BP-Amoco's
investments, as well as issues concerning international oil production.
[Scheunemann/BP Amoco Lobbying Disclosures, Senate Office of Public
Records]
McCain Staffer-Turned Lobbyists-Turned McCain Senate
Chief Of Staff Mark Buse Lobbied For Exxon. In early
2008 McCain as his Senate chief of staff Mark Buse, who had served
as McCain's staff director on the Commerce Committee "in
the late 1990s and early 2000s," and who was until fall 2007
"a lobbyist for ML Strategies." From 2006 until 2007,
Buse lobbied the federal government on behalf of Exxon Mobil,
earning his firm $560,000 in lobbying fees from the oil giant.
Buse lobbied on issues pertaining to renewable fuels, the energy
savings act, climate stewardship act, climate change, cap &
trade, and S.3711, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. [ML
Strategies/Exxon Lobbying Disclosures, Senate Office of Public
Records; Washington Post, 2/22/08]
McCain Bundler Lobbied for Shell Oil; Raised Over $500,000
For McCain. Jack Oliver, a prolific GOP fundraiser who
has raised over $500,000 for McCain's president campaign, lobbied
on behalf of Shell Oil Company until the end of 2007. Oliver lobbied
on a number of issues, including exploratory and development issues,
deepwater royalty relief, HR 3221, Clean Energy Act of 2007, and
energy tax credits. [Jack Oliver/Shell Oil Lobbying Disclosures,
Senate Office of Public Records; McCain Fundraiser List (http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/fundraisers.htm
)]
GOP "Heavy Hitter" And McCain Fundraiser Richard
Hohlt Lobbies for Chevron. Richard Hohlt, a McCain bundler
and low-profile Washington power broker/lobbyist so influential
Newsweek dubbed him "the heavy-hitter you've never heard
of," has lobbied on behalf of Chevron since 2006. Hohlt -
who has received over $250,000 from Chevron for his lobbying services
- has is currently lobbying on a number of issues including the
Warner-Lieberman climate change bill and the Energy Independence
& Tax Relief Act of 2008. Hohlt has raised between $250,000
and $500,000 for McCain's campaign. [Newsweek, 2/26/07; Hohlt/Chevron
Lobbying Disclosures, Senate Office of Public Records; The Hill,
3/8/07; McCain Fundraiser List (http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/fundraisers.htm)]
Black Lobbied For Occidental Oil Co., Earning Over $1
Million. From 2001 until 2007, Black lobbied for Occidental
Oil company, earning his firm over $1,610,000 for his lobbying
efforts. The issues for which Black lobbied on behalf of Occidental
include: Energy issues in developing nations and oil drilling
in Russia. [BKSH Lobbying Disclosures, Senate Office of Public
Records]
McCain's Campaign Received Over $5,000 From Occidental
CEO And Wife. McCain's presidential campaign has also
received $5,600 from Occidental CEO Ray Irani and his wife. [McCain
2008 FEC Data]
BKSH Lobbied For Chinese Oil Conglomerate CNOOC. According
to lobbying disclosure reports for BKSH, McCain advisor and name
partner Charlie Black lobbied for Chinese state-owned oil conglomerate
CNOOC Ltd. BKSH "engaged in telephone calls and meetings
dealing with legislation in Congress to prohibit foreign energy
companies from acquiring U.S. based energy companies." BKSH
lobbied for only a short period - from July 2005 until August
2005 - but was paid $60,000 for its efforts. [BKSH Supplemental
Statement, 12/31/05; BKSH Amendment, 8/15/05; BKSH Amendment,
3/27/06]
Past News
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2008
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2007
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2007
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2007
December 2006
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2006
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2006
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2006
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2006
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2006
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2005
November
2005
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2005
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2005
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2005
July 2005
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2005
