BP Enjoys Lobbying Strength, Close Ties to Lawmakers as Federal Investigation Looms

[Triana]

Yea. We've got the best 'gubmint' BP and the other oil & gas companies can buy for themselves. So. How was such a thing allowed to happen? I'd say this had a lot to do with it. And, yes. I realize this was a problem LONG before Obama was elected. It didn't stop when he was elected though.
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"In 2009, the company spent a massive $16 million to influence legislation. During the first quarter of 2010, it spent $3.53 million on federal lobbying efforts, ranking it second (behind ConocoPhillips) among all oil and gas industry interests."

...

"During the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political action committees associated with BP -- a Center for Responsive Politics' "heavy hitter" -- contributed half a million dollars to federal candidates. About 40 percent of these donations went to Democrats. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself, who collected $71,000."

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/on-thursday-oil-giant-bp.html

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And yes, Halliburton was of course directly involved as well - they were a contractor on the ill-fated rig:

..."The National Law Journal also reports that Halliburton, which was involved as a contractor with the now-sunken oil rig, has hired D.C. lobbying powerhouse Patton Boggs for legal counsel."

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/05/bp-goes-with-mud-comcast-works-k-st.html