Despite an increased focus on climate change from President Obama, public pressure such as the largest climate rally in U.S. history last weekend, and a new piece of legislation to regulate carbon emissions introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard is confident that the bill will never even reach the floor of the Senate.

As The Hill reports: “'I think no, it will not get to the floor, and I think the reason it won't get to the floor is the dynamics surrounding carbon has changed,' Gerard told E&E TV.” 

Gerard says that increased natural gas production, which API has advocated, is responsible for slightly lowering American carbon emissions recently, which will reduce the appetite amongst senators for taking action to prevent the worst of climate disruption. But what else might account for Gerard’s confidence?

Nineteen sitting senators have received $70,200 in contributions from API’s PAC and executives, including Gerard, since the 111th Congress (2009-2010), the last time a climate change bill was on the table.

(Based on a Public Campaign analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics)

When only 41 senators are needed to block any legislation in the Senate with the oft-abused filibuster, it doesn’t hurt to have personally bankrolled 19 of their campaigns. Of course, these API donations are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Big Oil’s influence in Congress—API member groups such as Chevron and Exxon have given millions more to elect friendly senators who will continue giving oil companies the ability to pollute for free.