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Tally of Interests on Climate Bill Tops a Thousand
More than 460 new businesses and interest groups jumped into lobbying Congress on global warming in the weeks before the House neared its historic vote on climate change legislation, a Center for Public Integrity analysis of just-disclosed lobbying records shows.
The Climate Lobby’s Nonstop Growth
Makers of sneakers, blue jeans, and computer network servers joined forces late last fall and vowed a bigger push in Congress on climate change. Meanwhile, consumer-owned utilities — relatively quiet in the global warming debate compared to the big investor-owned power companies — decided they needed to weigh in once a new president took office. Food producers felt they, too, needed to watch the global warming issue more closely to protect their interests. And promoters of electric vehicles saw their long-awaited chance for a boost from Uncle Sam if their needs were addressed in a climate bill.
Climate Change Lobbying Dominated by Ten Firms
Hundreds of lobbyists are cramming into Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building this week for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s mark-up of landmark legislation to curb global warming through a complex cap-and-trade system. But some of those lobbyists will carry a bit more weight — or at least a heftier client list — than others. Read more >
The ‘Clean Coal’ Lobbying Blitz
They've brought coal above ground. They've put the black rock on billboards and featured it in full-page ads. They seem to be everywhere in Washington. Who are those guys? They're the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a collection of 48 mining, rail, manufacturing and power-generating companies with an annual budget of $45 million. ACCCE is just celebrating its first birthday, but has already become a juggernaut shaping the terms of the climate change debate on Capitol Hill — even while weathering a high-profile assault from critics who accuse it of peddling hot air.
The Climate Change Lobby Explosion
While President Obama's team readies to take on the global warming challenge, the special interests that seek to derail, blunt, or tailor any new climate policy to their narrow agendas have already gathered in staggering numbers. A Center for Public Integrity analysis shows that more than 770 companies and interest groups hired an estimated 2,340 lobbyists to influence federal policy on climate change in the past year, as the issue gathered momentum and came to a vote on Capitol Hill. That's an increase of more than 300 percent in the number of lobbyists on climate change in just five years, and means that Washington can now boast more than four climate lobbyists for every member of Congress. Although some see the proliferation of voices engaged on the issue as a positive, the lobbying onslaught has caused growing alarm among some advocates of climate action.
The Climate Lobbyists
A sampling of power players: Read more >
Carbon as a Commodity
With the global economy in meltdown, and faith in Wall Street wizardry at a low — to say the least — it’s perhaps an odd time for a push to put the fate of the planet into the hands of the market. Read more >
Transportation Agencies Steer into Climate Change Debate
Public transit advocates were almost nowhere to be found when the Senate debated climate change back in 2003. But today, transit agencies and their allies are among many new players jumping into the climate debate, as the stakes grow higher, and the prospective benefits — a cleaner world and cold cash — grow clearer. Read more >
Methodology
Funders
Who’s Lobbying?
Type in the name of a special interest in the global warming debate to see who is making its case on Capitol Hill. You can also search by lobbyist, sector, time frame, or money. Typing in a dollar amount will show lobbying expenses at that amount or higher. In most cases, the amount displayed is for lobbying on all issues, not just climate.
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