Polluter support for Bush paying off big
May 03, 2004: A new report sheds light on how corporate contributions to the Bush administration are paying off big for polluters. Since 1999, 30 power companies that own the nation's dirtiest power plants have raised $6.6 million for President Bush and the Republican National Committee, according to an analysis by Public Citizen. Executives at 10 of these utilities raised at least $100,000 or $200,000 each, earning them the honor of being named to the president's list of "pioneers" or "rangers," respectively. These top fundraisers for the president include executives at FirstEnergy Corp. ($865,877), Southern Co. ($807,062), TXU ($754,898), Dominion ($679,105), Centerpoint (formerly Reliant) Energy ($539,900), Cinergy Corp ($431,722), Exelon ($404,856), Edison Electric Institute ($348,750), Dynergy Inc. ($311,382) and Edison International ($192,291). Collectively, these top 10 industry fundraisers have raised $1.5 million over the last 5 years. Public Citizen's report draws a connection between this corporate gift-giving and political paybacks in the form of the administration's weakening changes to the Clean Air Act that benefit the utility industry.
"One of the Bush administration's biggest, most damaging environmental policy changes to date would weaken the Clean Air Act to allow power plants to emit more smokestack pollution," said John Walke, director of NRDC's clean air program.
© 2009 Natural Resources Defense Council
