Through the beginning of 2012, as Washington debated high gas prices, the Keystone pipeline, and ending wasteful subsidies to highly profitable oil companies, Big Oil handed out big bucks to their preferred politicians.

With first quarter earnings reports set to be released this week, it’s important to look at the politicians oil companies are funding and what they might be getting in return.

The political action committees (PACs) of the American Petroleum Institute and four of these big oil companies—Exxon, Chevron, BP, and Conoco—handed out $501,500 to Congressional incumbents and candidates in the first three months of 2012, according to Public Campaign analysis of data filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Shell’s PAC did not make any contributions to federal candidates in the first quarter.

Other key points:

• Republicans received 93 percent—or $467,500—of these contributions in the first quarter of 2012. That’s $381,000 to Republican House and Senate incumbents and $86,500 to challengers. Democrats received $33,000 from these five PACs in the first three months of 2012, with $5,000 going to one challenger. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (I-Alaska) received $1,000 from BP.

• Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who learned over the weekend that he'll face a primary election, received $18,500 from these PACs in the first quarter, making him the top recipient. Last month, Hatch voted for a measure to fast-track the Keystone pipeline. Hawaii Senate Candidate Gov. Linda Lingle (R) is right below him with $17,500 in contributions.
• House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is the top recipient in his chamber, bringing in $17,000. Michigan Republican Rep. Dave Camp (R-Michigan) raised $16,000 and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) received $15,000 in contributions. All three have voted to approve the Keystone XL pipeline and against efforts to end oil subsidies. The full list of recipients is below.