Image by Friends of the Earth, used with permission.
Friends of the Earth has launched a new campaign to get the recipients of the most cash from BP to give the money to Gulf restoration projects through the Gulf Coast Fund. The “BP Ten”—the five senators and five House members who have gotten the most cash from the oil giant for the 2008 and 2010 election cycles—have received nearly $114,000.
BP has donated $3.5 million candidates for federal office in the last two decades, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That’s from both the company’s political action committee and employees. President Obama was actually the top recipient of money from the company, at $77,051, but their campaign is focused on sitting members of Congress.
Here are the top recipients of BP money for the past four years:
Senate
John McCain (R-AZ, $36,649 from BP and $2,428,287 from Big Oil since 2006)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA, $16,200 from BP and $329,100 from Big Oil since 2006)
Mark Begich (D-AK, $8,550 from BP and $85,958 from Big Oil since 2006)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK, $8,500 from BP and $223,326 from Big Oil since 2006)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY, $8,500 from BP and $408,400 from Big Oil since 2006)
House
John Culberson (R-TX, $10,200 from BP and $187,350 from Big Oil since 2006)
Ron Paul (R-TX, $7,300 from BP and $134,132 from Big Oil since 2006)
Charles Rangel (D-NY, $6,500 from BP and $40,600 from Big Oil since 2006)
Steny Hoyer (D-MD, $6,000 from BP and $91,800 from Big Oil since 2006)
Don Young (R-AK, $5,500 from BP and $45,500 from Big Oil since 2006)
