BP's Massive Washington Lobbying Campaign Threatens any Independent Inquiry

[amborin]

BP's Lobbying Clout: 27 Former Hill, White House Staffers Working For Oil Giant

As Congress gears up for a legislative response to the oil spill in the Gulf and energy reform more broadly, some political observers are increasingly worried that the deck may be stacked in private industry's favor.

That's because in the first three months of this year alone, the company at the heart of the current crisis, BP, has hired at least 27 lobbyists who formerly worked in Congress or the executive branch.


In the first three months of 2010 -- the three months that immediately preceded the explosion of its Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig -- BP spent more than $3.8 million dollars on lobbying the federal government. The cash was spread around seven prominent lobby shops within the D.C. area (including BP's own internal operation), who in turn employed 39 lobbyists to help the company push its legislative interests. That nearly 70 percent of those hired guns have experience in elected office doesn't surprise good government officials because those are after all the most sought-after hires on K Street.


A former Hill staffer who is now lobbying comes with a ready-made Rolodex of contacts for those people working and writing legislation," added Donnelly.

Take, for instance, the company's hiring of the powerhouse Podesta Group, which was paid $60,000 in contracts in 2010. As part of the package, BP received the lobbying assistance of Paul Brathwaite who served as the Executive Director for the Congressional Black Caucus; Hewitt Strange, a former aide to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA); Andrew Lewin, who served as Legislative Director for Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS); Randall Gerard, who served as a staff member under Sen. John McCain (R-AZ); Tim Glassco, who was a congressional relations staff for Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee; Teal Baker a "former high-level director" with the Obama for America campaign and one-time aide to Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA); David Marin who served as the Minority Staff Director of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in 2007; and Cristina Antelo, who worked for former Sens. Hillary Clinton and Tom Daschle. Then there is the head of the firm itself, Tony Podesta, who is one of the most powerful lobbyists in D.C., a one-time counsel to former Sen. Ted Kennedy and a lobbyist on the BP account.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/02/bps-lobbying-clout-27-for_n_597510.html

[mucifer]

1. we might have more hope with the justice dept's criminal investigation of bp

Put them in prison!

[Kalun D]

2. LOLZ!!!!

""we might have more hope with the justice dept's criminal investigation""

With Eric Holder at Obama's "justice"???

Tell some more jokes. No wait, stop it, did you know a lot of comedians are out of work right now?

[Kalun D]

3. Dems almost as bad as Repugs

"served as the Executive Director for the Congressional Black Caucus(ALL D's)
"a former aide to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)"
"served as Legislative Director for Rep. Dennis Moore (D-KS)"
"one-time aide to Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA)"
"worked for former Sens. Hillary Clinton(D) and Tom Daschle(D)"
"one-time counsel to former Sen. Ted Kennedy(D)"

[global1]

4. I Don't Care How Much Money BP Spent On Lobbying In The First 3 Months Of This Year......

all bets are off now. They screwed up. They are lobbying for even less restrictions/regulations. Now that we have the biggest disaster in history - any politician that speaks up for BP or the oil industry is IMHO committing political suicide. The money that they spent on lobbyists is just money down the hole as far as I'm concerned.

If anyone in Congress - on either side of the aisle - still sticks up for BP and the oil industry - they are toast. This message has to go out loud and clear to all members of Congress.

We're going to make them pay with their jobs - if they don't stick up for those poor people in the Gulf States and stick it to BP with legal, financial and criminal penalties.

This disaster is now beyond the scope of just the Gulf - it has global implications. If our Congress and President don't do what is right in the eyes of our global community - they're all going to have a tremendous burden to bear - and in the eyes of our world community - the U.S. will have sunk even further in their minds.

[chill_wind]

5. K & R. n/t