Capito Gets $524,035 From Oil, Gas, Coal: ; Congresswoman’s Spokesman Says Contributions Don’t; Drive Public Policy

By JAKE STUMP

Since 2000, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito has accepted $524,035 from the oil, gas and coal industries combined.

That’s more than any other West Virginia member in Congress, and more than three times as much as received by some in that time period.

Environmental watchdog groups have created a pair of Web sites that show how much campaign cash those industries have forked over to members of Congress.

Capito, R-W.Va., a four-term congresswoman, received $260,745 from the oil and gas industry and $263,290 from the coal industry in the last eight years.

According to Oil Change International, one of the groups responsible for the online databases, Capito supported the oil and gas industry in 82 percent of selected votes.

These figures have given fuel to Capito’s opponent, Democrat Anne Barth, in her quest to oust the congresswoman from her 2nd District seat in November. The Barth campaign claims the numbers paint Capito as a friend of big oil.

“Mrs. Capito’s votes and actions – votes for big oil and her hand out for campaign contributions – is a telling sign of what is wrong in Washington,” said Barth spokeswoman Talley Sergent.

Barth will not accept contributions from oil companies, Sergent added.

Capito spokesman Kent Gates said the congresswoman should not be criticized for her campaign fundraising. He noted that other members of the state’s congressional delegation usually aren’t in hotly contested races. Groups are more willing to fund candidates in tight match-ups.

“Contributions don’t drive public policy,” Gates said. “It’s what West Virginians want. It’s what it’s always been and always will be.”

Capito’s top three contributors in the oil industry are Petroleum Products, $32,950; Exxon Mobil, $23,000; and Eastern American Energy Corp., $18,250. On the coal side, they are Arch Coal, $32,550; Allegheny Energy, $26,000; and Dominion Resources, $22,500.

Gates said the congresswoman has effectively served as an independent voice on Capitol Hill, uninfluenced by campaign contributors. He notes that she has introduced and supported legislation aimed to help constituents burdened by the energy crisis, measures that include anti-price gouging, investment in alternative fuels and expanded drilling.

Sergent said Barth’s plan also includes opening drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf, increasing drilling on leased lands and cracking down on speculation by oil traders.

Among the delegation, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., received the second-highest donations from energy sources.

Rockefeller got a combined $295,250 from those industries since 2000. He received $209,700 from coal interests and $85,550 from oil and gas companies.

Following Capito and Rockefeller is Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., who accepted $134,600 in coal contributions and $55,850 in oil and gas donations.

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., received $125,800 from the coal industry and $39,750 from oil and gas interests.

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., got $77,350 from coal companies and $41,850 from oil and gas ones.

According to its Web site, Oil Change International campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. The group says it’s dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition.

Its data comes from the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan watchdog group that tracks money in politics.

To access the coal money database, go online to http:// coalmoney.priceofoil.org/federalRaceGraph.php?typesearch. For the oil and gas database, go to http://oilmoney.priceofoil.org/ federalRaceGraph.php?typesearch.

Contact writer Jake Stump at jakestump@dailymail.com or 304-348- 4842.

Originally published by DAILY MAIL CAPITOL REPORTER.

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