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July 11, 2016

ANALYSIS: Senators Who Will Decry Big Money In Politics Are Top Beneficiaries Of Enviros

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On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 19 U.S. senators will give floor speeches on the evils of big money in politics. They plan to call out fossil fuel companies in particular.

However, a Core News analysis reveals that these senators are major beneficiaries of the Environmentalist Left’s largesse. Together, they have received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from environmental groups.

See the list of senators below and how they benefit from the powerful environmental lobby:

  • Senator Harry Reid (D-NV): The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has given nearly $75,000 to Reid since 1992. The Sierra Club has given over $18,000 to Reid since 1990. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund gave $2,600 to Reid in 2014.
  • Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA): The LCV gave nearly $70,000 to Boxer in 2010. She also received contributions from the NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club.
  • Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL): The LCV gave more than $16,000 to Durbin in 2014. Durbin also received contributions from the NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club.
  • Senator Jack Reed (D-RI): Reed received $9,400 in contributions from the LCV in 2014. The Sierra Club chipped in $4,800 in 2014. The NRDC Action Fund gave more than $6,000 in 2008.
  • Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY): The LCV has given over $73,000 to Schumer since 2011. The NRDC Action Fund has give over $10,000 since 2010, and the Sierra Club gave $3,000 in 2010.
  • Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): The LCV has given over $42,000 to Whitehouse since 2010; they are his fourth-largest donor. The NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club also gave.
  • Senator Tom Udall (D-NM): Udall has received over $70,000 from the LCV since 2002. He has received over $25,000 from the Sierra Club since 1998, and over $18,000 from the NRDC Action Fund since 1998.
  • Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): The LCV was Shaheen’s third-biggest contributor in 2014, giving over $86,000.
  • Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR): The LCV is Merkley’s top contributor since 2011, giving over $90,000.
  • Senator Al Franken (D-MN): The LCV is Franken’s second-biggest contributor, giving over $35,000 in 2014. The NRDC Action Fund also gave to Franken.
  • Senator Chris Coons (D-DE): The LCV has contributed over $10,000 to Coons.
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Blumenthal has received over $20,000 from LCV in the 2016 cycle so far.
  • Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI): The LCV is Schatz’s top contributor since 2013, giving more than $170,000 in that span. The environment is a top-five industry giving to Schatz, according to OpenSecrets. The Sierra Club and the NRDC Action Fund also gave to Schatz.
  • Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM): The LCV is Heinrich’s top contributor since 2011, giving more than $180,000. Heinrich was the top beneficiary of the Sierra Club in 2012, getting $12,061. He was the second-biggest beneficiary of LCV in 2012, getting almost $150,000. The environment is a top-five industry giving to Heinrich, according to OpenSecrets. The NRDC Action Fund also gave to Heinrich.
  • Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA): The LCV is Kaine’s second-biggest contributor since 2011, just after JStreetPAC. Kaine was the top beneficiary of LCV in 2012, getting more than $165,000. The Sierra Club and NRDC Action Fund also gave to Kaine.
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): Warren has received over $55,000 from the LCV. The Sierra Club and NRDC also contributed, in 2012.
  • Senator Edward Markey (D-MA): Markey’s top contributor is the LCV; he received over $200,000 in 2014. The NRDC and Environmental Defense Fund also gave to Markey. The Sierra Club gave to Markey in 2012.
  • Senator Gary Peters (D-MI): The LCV is Peters’ top contributor since 2011, giving over $335,000. The LCV gave Peters more than any other candidate in 2014. The Sierra Club, NRDC, and the Environmental Defense Fund also gave to Peters in 2014.

All data were compiled from OpenSecrets.org.