JLF: Big Oil's Sleeping With the U.S. Government, We're Paying

In fact, I pointed out in JLF: Bush Bankrupts Everything He Touches, George Bush has heavy business experience in the industry, mainly driving companies into financial ruin.  Heck Bush, as President, has appointed people who are constantly passing policy that is favorable to polluters, like Stephen L. Johnson, the current head of the EPA.  He's trying to stop seventeen states from passing tight greenhouse gas emission policies.  His argument is "The Bush administration is moving forward with a clear national solution, not a confusing patchwork of state rules. I believe this is a better approach than if individual states were to act alone.”  (Makes me think of Breaking Knews: Bush Proposes 3/5 Gay Marriage Equivalent.)  GRRREEEAT.  I'm sure setting a strict greenhouse gas emission policy is a priority in his last three months.  It's so transparent, it makes me want to call in the aliens and tell them to level it all.

What about the rest of the government?  What of them?  We know Bush and his appointees are in the pocket of the energy companies and large manufacturers, but what about the rest of our leaders?  The House of Representatives?  Congress?  

Here's an answer.  According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan group in Washington D.C. that tries to educate American voters, the petroleum industry's expected to break $83 million in lobbyist cost this year.  That isn't the amount they donate to political campaigns, that's the money they spend trying to influence lawmakers and the policy they shape.

Now, they aren't the largest lobbying industry.  They are fifth.  It goes:

1. pharmaceutical/heath products
2. insurance
3. electric utilities
4. computers/internet
5. oil/gas

But what's interesting about the petroleum industry's $83+ million is that it's steadily increased since 2005... right when the gas prices started shooting through the roof.  Before 2005, it floated around $50-55 million, but once they reeeeeaally started ripping us off, they needed to boost up their D.C. influence so they could reeeeeaally get away with it.

2003 - $55 million
2004 - $51 million
2005 - $64 million
2006 - $74 million
2007 - $83 million
2008 - $83+ million

It speaks for itself.  I thought the government was for the people, not for the industry.

I'm done here.  Full HAWT.

F*** it.

Always your pleasure.

  - JLF

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