Public Campaign, along with Oil Change international, released a new report yesterday: "Payback Time? The Supercommittee & Fossil Fuel Subsidies." The report shows that the 12 members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or “supercommittee,” have received at least $4.2 million in campaign contributions from dirty energy interests lobbying to keep their wasteful taxpayer subsidies.

From the press release for the new report: “The supercommittee shouldn’t be giving handouts to their dirty energy donors at the expense of middle class families,” said David Donnelly, national campaigns director for Public Campaign.

Tackling major deficit reduction is no easy task, but a great place to start would certainly be eliminating taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil, and other fossil fuel interests, who continue to rake in huge profits. Given the amount of campaign cash the industry has thrown the supercommittee's way, and their major lobbying presence, it remains to be seen whether the committee will look out for ordinary Americans who continue to struggle, or pay back their major campaign contributors.

A full copy of the report, including full analyses of all 12 members of the supercommittee can be reviewed here.