Enviros Push for “BP 10” to Dump the Campaign Cash

Image by Friends of the Earth, used with permission.

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


Friends of the Earth has launched a new campaign to get the recipients of the most cash from BP to give the money to Gulf restoration projects through the Gulf Coast Fund. The “BP Ten”—the five senators and five House members who have gotten the most cash from the oil giant for the 2008 and 2010 election cycles—have received nearly $114,000.

BP has donated $3.5 million candidates for federal office in the last two decades, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That’s from both the company’s political action committee and employees. President Obama was actually the top recipient of money from the company, at $77,051, but their campaign is focused on sitting members of Congress.

Here are the top recipients of BP money for the past four years:

Senate

John McCain (R-AZ, $36,649 from BP and $2,428,287 from Big Oil since 2006)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA, $16,200 from BP and $329,100 from Big Oil since 2006)
Mark Begich (D-AK, $8,550 from BP and $85,958 from Big Oil since 2006)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK, $8,500 from BP and $223,326 from Big Oil since 2006)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY, $8,500 from BP and $408,400 from Big Oil since 2006)

House

John Culberson (R-TX, $10,200 from BP and $187,350 from Big Oil since 2006)
Ron Paul (R-TX, $7,300 from BP and $134,132 from Big Oil since 2006)
Charles Rangel (D-NY, $6,500 from BP and $40,600 from Big Oil since 2006)
Steny Hoyer (D-MD, $6,000 from BP and $91,800 from Big Oil since 2006)
Don Young (R-AK, $5,500 from BP and $45,500 from Big Oil since 2006)

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate