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‘Super Committee’ Stacked with Big Oil Subsidy Supporters

Eight of the twelve members appointed to Congress’s “Super Committee” for deficit reduction have voted to continue nearly $4 billion in annual Big Oil handouts in the past two years.  All six Republican members consistently voted to continue Big Oil handouts.

The oil industry, which reported $73 billion in profits in the first six months of 2011 alone, gave over $13.6 million in campaign contributions during the last election cycle, with plans to contribute even more in the coming years.

Oil Change International’s Steve Kretzmann highlights the key facts that illustrate Big Oil’s influence over the Super Committee:

• "The six Republicans received $1,433,584 in oil and gas industry campaign contributions over their careers.  More than half of that money – $791,474 – was donated in just the 2010 election cycle.

• The six Republicans on the committee received 11 times more money from oil companies in the 2010 election cycle than the six Democrats ($791,474 to $71,700)

• Three members—Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.)— received 83%, or $657,574, of these contributions.

• Overall, the 12 members have received $2,147,533 from Big Oil during their careers.”

Additionally, Representative Fred Upton has gained notoriety as leading the charge in the war against the EPA.