Paying - and Polluting - More at the Gas Pump
Washington, DC...An analysis released by Public Campaign today shows that senators who voted last fall to stall new fuel efficiency standards for light trucks - a category which includes popular SUVs and minivans - received more than twice the campaign contributions, on average, from the auto lobby as senators who did not.
With gasoline prices soaring, consumers are paying more than ever to fill up the tanks of their SUVs, which get notoriously poor gas mileage. Low gas mileage also means more pollution. Raising fuel economy standards for light trucks would slash U.S. global warming pollution by over 240 million tons annually, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Reducing global warming by raising fuel economy standards is a major theme of Earth Day 2000.
Since 1995, however, at the urging of the auto lobby, Congress has prohibited the U.S. Department of Transportation from even studying the idea of requiring higher fuel efficiency standards for SUVs and light trucks.
Public Campaign analyzed Federal Election Commission data coded by industry by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics and found a clear correlation between campaign contributions from the auto lobby and Congress’ actions.
On September 15, 1999, 55 senators voted "no" on an amendment that recommended the government study the possibility of raising fuel efficiency standards. These senators received an average of $41,630 apiece in PAC and large individual ($200+) contributions over six years from auto manufacturers, dealers, and unions. That’s more than twice the average amount-$19,090-received from the auto lobby by the 40 senators who voted "yes" on the amendment.
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), who in 1995 introduced the first rider prohibiting the Transportation Department from raising fuel economy standards, ranked third in the House of Representatives for contributions from the auto lobby, taking $66,600 in PAC and large individual contributions ($200+) since 1997. The top two House recipients of auto lobby campaign cash, Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), with $79,760, and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), $72,915, are cosponsors of legislation that would freeze new fuel efficiency standards permanently.
Overall, Public Campaign’s analysis found that, since 1997, auto manufacturers, dealers, and auto unions have given nearly $15 million to federal campaigns, 64 percent to Republicans. This total includes PAC contributions, large individual contributions of $200 or more, and soft money.
The full text of Paying - and Polluting - More at the Gas Pump, which includes charts showing the top Senate and House recipients of auto lobby campaign cash along with where they stand on legislation that would freeze fuel efficiency standards and the September 15, 1999 Senate vote is available here.