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John Daley ReportingAddicted, America is hooked on oil. Some blame a political system hooked on campaign cash from the oil and gas industry. It's a bold claim, and with gas prices spiking, we checked if it's truth or fiction.
Your gas prices are hitting three dollars a gallon. Many wonder why the US is still so dependent on oil with no viable alternatives. Some question the tight ties between the oil industry and members of Congress, from every state, including Utah.
In a year where gas prices in the US are hitting record highs, one line stands out from the State of the Union address:
President George W. Bush: "America is addicted to oil."
That addiction, say many political analysts, is paved by a deeper problem -- little or no emphasis on alternatives, thanks to a Congress addicted to oil money.
Kirk Jowers, Director, Hinckley Institute of Politics: "The truth of the matter is oil and gas have had some, from their perspective, great bills which have relaxed regulations, allowed opportunities for greater profits, and we see the result now."
The non-profit, non-partisan Center for Responsible Politics and its website, www.OpenSecrets.org, reports the industry, as usual, is pouring money into Congress, 73% of members getting contributions this election cycle.
But three members of Utah's Congressional delegation, in town for a recent event, say campaign money from oil and gas, or any other source for that matter, doesn't influence them.
Rep. Jim Matheson, (D) Utah/2nd District: "I receive contributions from all over the political spectrum."
Rep. Chris Cannon, (R) Utah/3rd District: "I don't vote based on money that is contributed."
Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R) Utah: "What impact do those oil and gas contributions have in getting favorable legislation passed for them? Not very much."
We followed the money for Utah's Congressmen and found campaign cash from oil and gas ranks as a top twenty contributor for each, including 51-thousand dollars for Senator Hatch.
- Rob Bishop $3,000
- Chris Cannon $9,000
- Jim Matheson $14,400
- Orrin Hatch $51,750
- Robert Bennett $57,750
Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R) Utah: "By the way, that's really not a lot of money in the overall scope of things, for the average senate race is at least five million dollars."
But that kind of money is a formidable obstacle for challengers.
Pete Ashdown, (D) Candidate for U.S. Senate: "I'd say most of our incumbents are benefiting from high oil prices, because they get campaign contributions from the oil companies, and the officials of those oil companies to keep them in power."
Dating back to 1989, the watchdog group finds impressive career totals approaching 200-thousand dollars for each Utah Senator.
Each Utah member of Congress voted for last year's massive energy bill. It had no mention of perhaps the biggest potential energy saver, fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles. But it did include 14.5 billion dollars in tax breaks, the vast majority going to traditional energy producers like oil and gas.
This, as the top three companies made billions in profits.
2005 Profits:- Exxon Mobil $36 billion
- Chevron $14 billion
- Conoco $13.5 billion
- source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Sen. Orrin Hatch, (R) Utah: "Are you asking whether I do things for the industry because they donated to me? I don't even know how much they donate. Frankly, I've never done that. I do what I think is right."
Rep. Jim Matheson, (D) Utah/2nd District: "By definition, I'm not beholden to anybody cause I get money from just about everywhere it can come from. If anyone is expecting a quid pro quo, it's not going to happen."
Tim Wagner, Director, Utah Smart Energy Campaign: "I think the major corporations see it as a major investment. Otherwise they wouldn't give the money to congress. Why would they do that?"
Kirk Jowers, Director, Hinckley Institute of Politics: "Do campaign contributions have impact on a bill? Absolutely."
Since 1989, other players have given money too. Alternative energy producers gave two million. But that's no match for the 188-million dollars in campaign cash to Congress from oil and gas, most going to Republicans, who've mostly controlled Washington in recent years.
Even some members of the dominant party say...
Rep. Chris Cannon, (R) Utah/3rd District: "There is way too much money in politics."
We also checked the total spent on lobbying by the oil and gas industry. That's separate from campaign contributions. Opensecrets.org found since 1998, the industry has spent 388 million dollars on lobbying alone.
