The Article:<\/strong> Senators Who Voted To Protect Oil Tax Breaks Received $23,582,500 From Big Oil<\/a> by Rebecca Leber in Think Progress.<\/p>\n

The Text:<\/strong> In a 51-47 vote, 43 Senate Republicans and four Democrats filibustered to protect $24 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil. Although a majority voted for Sen. Robert Menendez\u2019s (D-NJ) bill, it fell short of the 60 needed. The only two Republicans to break rank were Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).<\/p>\n

A Think Progress Green analysis shows how oil and gas companies have funneled cash to the same senators who protected its handouts:<\/p>\n

\u2013 The 47 senators voting against the bill have received $23,582,500 in career contributions from oil and gas. The 51 senators voting to repeal oil tax breaks have received $5,873,600.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The senators who voted for Big Oil\u2019s handouts received on average over four times as much career oil cash as those who voted to end them.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2013 Overall, Senate Republicans have taken $23.2 million in oil and gas contributions. Democrats received $6.66 million.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Since 2011, Senate Republicans have voted seven times for pro-Big Oil interests and against clean energy three times.<\/p>\n

Democrats who joined the Republicans in defeating the bill include Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Jim Webb (D-VA). Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) broke ranks and voted to cut the tax breaks. Two senators, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) didn\u2019t vote.
\nRepublicans have taken an overwhelming 88 percent of oil and gas contributions this election cycle. While showering politicans with cash, the oil industry also spent over $146,000,000 on lobbying last year.<\/p>\n

Although 55 percent of Americans want to see Big Oil welfare end, the GOP once again largely acted in-line with their Big Oil donors. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Article: Senators Who Voted To Protect Oil Tax Breaks Received $23,582,500 From Big Oil by Rebecca Leber in Think Progress. The Text: In a 51-47 vote, 43 Senate Republicans and four Democrats filibustered to protect $24 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil. Although a majority voted for Sen. Robert Menendez\u2019s (D-NJ) bill, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[259],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n