Big Oil is buying the United States House of Representatives
By louisehartmann
On Thursday – House Republicans, with a few Democrats, passed the Domestic Energy Production Act to increase oil drilling, scrap environmental regulations, and mandate drilling on public lands. The vote tally was 248 to 163. And according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics – Big Oil paid a lot of money for all those yes votes. Each of the 248 Members who supported the giveaway to the oil industry received, on average, more than $150,000 in campaign contributions from Big Oil. But, each of the Members who voted no, have only received $36,000 from Big Oil.
Altogether, Big Oil spent $38.6 million to get enough yes votes to pass the bill. And already, the oil industry has spent more money on the House of Representatives than in 2008 and 2010, with 88% of its campaign contributions going to Republicans. That explains why this is the most anti-environment House in our nation’s history – with one out of every five votes taken to roll back regulation that keep our public lands, air, and water safe from polluters.
Remember, Big Oil isn’t really making campaign contributions, they’re making investments – and getting great returns off their Republican shills.
Comments
#2
Contributions aside, the whole of Congress gets veiled lease royalties and they have to hide it from us.
I think oil is the top holder under the general title of North American Exploitation (of all mineral, gas, timber, and geological resources). What went wrong is that oil has been allowed to acquire control of transportation, defense, and the clothing, food and drug supply.
#3
Ironic, we had 5 blow out well fires here in North Dakota, one within miles of the missouri river. and once all the well fires were out, the state legislature passed a bill which states, Fracking is good ! and its most all republican. and as I stated while on air with thom, they flare off enough natural gas to heat 10,000 homes a day. and although they have this grandious plan to make the world work on natural gas, allegedly, they call the natural gas a waste product, now !
#4
I went to the myhealth.gov, and all they offer here is a high risk pool. I had tried to apply before and was turned down. as I am a combat wounded Vietnam Vet, and a wounded in the line of duty law enforcement officer. thus, pre-existing. therefore, no insurance, and the high risk pool, were I able to get, it would be almost $4oo+ dollars a month. and I am 100% rated disabled. so most probably, I and wife, whom was total disabled by a drunk driver, also refused high risk pool, will have to wait till 2014 ?
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
From Cracking the Code:
"No one communicates more thoughtfully or effectively on the radio airwaves than Thom Hartmann. He gets inside the arguments and helps people to think them through—to understand how to respond when they’re talking about public issues with coworkers, neighbors, and friends. This book explores some of the key perspectives behind his approach, teaching us not just how to find the facts, but to talk about what they mean in a way that people will hear."
From Screwed:
"Hartmann speaks with the straight talking clarity and brilliance of a modern day Tom Paine as he exposes the intentional and systematic destruction of America’s middle class by an alliance of political con artists and outlines a program to restore it. This is Hartmann at his best. Essential reading for those interested in restoring the institution that made America the envy of the world."
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Through compelling personal stories, Hartmann presents a dramatic and deeply disturbing picture of humans as a profoundly troubled species. Hope lies in his inspiring vision of our enormous unrealized potential and his description of the path to its realization."
Thom --- at face value, this story alone would be cause for considerable concern; but when you stop to realize that Big Oil is only one of the Big owners of our "democracy" -- one's mood really turns gloomy.
Thom, as the clearest and most informed thinker that any of us know, when it comes to our experiment in democracy -- I have a request of you: Would you please advise us on how to respond to the incessant pleas for contributions from "our side", as they battle to balance the message-spending. Every day I get 6-10 emails (I don't even pick up my phone anymore...) from good, progressive candidates; office holders; organizations; etc. (You probably get several times that!) And I'm getting *very* frustrated, because I know that the huge bank-roll on the other side will indeed buy votes (rightly or wrongly -- that's just the way it is) --- but I could give every non-essential nickel I have, and, in a lifetime, not counterbalance one day's chump change from the Koch brothers, or Adelson, or any Republican Super PAC. I feel I have to try...... but, at the same time, I feel like I'm on a fool's errand.
Please think deeply about this, and give us a short, on-air segment on how to proceed; and how to think about what is feeling more and more like we're just playing into the money-in-politics problem. Thanks in advance. Warmest regards, Mike