NEWS

Oil & Gas Industry Gave 10 Times More Money to Senators Voting for Keystone XL

Daniel Stevens | February 10, 2015

Feb. 10, 2015 -- Late last month, the Senate passed S.1 (62-36), which allows TransCanada to build the Keystone XL pipeline without a presidential permit or additional environmental review. The House is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow, and the White House said President Obama would veto the legislation.

The oil and gas industry gave, on average, 10 times more money to Senators voting ‘YES’ ($236,544) on S. 1 compared to Senators voting 'NO' ($22,882).

The oil and gas industry gave, on average, 3.2 times more money to Democratic Senators voting ‘YES’ ($73,279) on S.1 compared to Democratic and Independent Senators voting ‘NO’ ($22,882).

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), the sponsor of the legislation, received $275,998 from the oil and gas industry.

Refining Industry Contributions

In particular, the petroleum refining & marketing industry stands to benefit from the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline. Some of the pipeline’s strongest supporters are the Gulf Coast refinery companies that have expanded their facilities and would benefit from Canadian oil that will flow through the pipeline.

The petroleum refining & marketing industry gave, on average, 10 times more money to Senators voting ‘YES’ ($37,325) on S. 1 compared to Senators voting 'NO' ($3,635).

The petroleum refining & marketing industry gave, on average, 153 percent more money to Democratic Senators voting ‘YES’ ($9,185) on S.1 compared to Democratic and Independent Senators voting ‘NO’ ($3,635).

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), the sponsor of the legislation, received $24,500 from the petroleum refining & marketing industry.

To view contributions from the oil and gas industry to members of the House who voted on a similar bill in January, click here.

Campaign Contributions Methodology: MapLight analysis of campaign contributions to members of the Senate voting on S.1 from PACs and employees of the oil and gas industry (Fuel Oil Dealers, Independent Oil & Gas Prodcuers, Multinational Oil & Gas Producers, Oil & Gas, Oilfield Service, Equipment & Exploration, and Petroleum Refining & Marketing) from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2014. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org.