Mitch McConnell Stands Up for Big Oil, Holding Middle Class Tax Cuts Hostage

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced today that he will hold the extension of middle class tax cuts hostage unless an unrelated provision about the Keystone XL oil pipeline project is included—a major handout to his Big Oil donors that could leave millions of Americans facing a tax increase in the new year.

So, who’s the biggest Senate recipient of oil and gas industry money so far in 2011? Mitch McConnell.

He has received $199,00 from oil and gas interests so far in 2011, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), whose campaign committee and leadership PAC have received $107,350 from the industry, also wants the Keystone provision included.

Here are some other numbers on the industry’s giving this year:

Of the $1.5 million oil and gas industry donations members of the U.S. Senate have received this year, 78% has gone to McConnell and his Republican colleagues—roughly $1.2 million to $334,585.
The top nine Senate recipients of oil and gas industry money so far in 2011 are Republicans.

Speaker Boehner and his Republican colleagues have received 88% of the oil and gas industry campaign contributions to House members this year—roughly $4.2 million to Democrats $568,650.
The top 30 House recipients of oil and gas industry money so far in 2011 are Republicans. The top 10 are listed below.

Originally posted by Adam Smith over at the essential Public Campaign.