Congressman “Bailout” Blunt’s Campaign Account is

“Where Big Oil Puts Its Money”

Forbes Highlights Blunt as #2 Highest Recipient of Big Oil Money in U.S. House of Representatives

14-Year Voting Record Shows Billions in Government Giveaways to Big Oil

Jefferson City – As Big Oil executives took heat on Capitol Hill yesterday, Forbes released an article “Where Big Oil Puts Its Money on Capitol Hill”, highlighting Congressman Roy Blunt’s record of raking in chart-topping amounts of cash from Big Oil.  The article notes that Congressman Blunt has the distinction of being the second-highest recipient of Big Oil money in the entire House of Representatives for the current campaign cycle [Forbes, 6/15/2010].

The other top recipients of Big Oil cash are largely from oil producing states, unlike Congressman Blunt.  However, given Congressman Blunt’s 14-year record of protecting Big Oil, the news doesn’t come as a total surprise, but serves as a reminder of who Congressman Blunt has been working for during his seven terms in Washington. Congressman Blunt’s record includes doling out billions in government giveaways to Big Oil and fighting to ease drilling restrictions for oil companies.

“As oil continues to seep, so do the stories about Congressman Blunt’s ties to Big Oil,” said Ryan Hobart, Communications Director for the Missouri Democratic Party. “The more we learn about Congressman Blunt’s chart-topping Big Oil contributions, the more we understand why he has spent the last 14 years in Washington protecting Big Oil companies.”

Congressman Blunt recently added to his Big Oil coffers when he took money from Halliburton after the spill began and Congress started investigating the company’s potential involvement in causing the spill. [Fec.gov (Halliburton contribution on 05/17/10)].

CONGRESSMAN BLUNT’S 14-YEAR WASHINGTON RECORD OF PROTECTING BIG OIL

What He Gets:

• Congressman Blunt took More Than $1 Million from Big Oil & Energy Interests during his time in Washington  [OpenSecrets.org, 5/21/10]
• Congressman Blunt is ranked #2 out of 435 members of the House of Representatives in oil and gas contributions [OpenSecrets.org, 5/26/10]
• Congressman Blunt is among the Top Ten Recipients Of BP Money in the House of Representatives [OpenSecrets.org, 4/30/10]

What He Gives:

• Congressman Blunt voted for $21 billion in subsidies and government giveaways to the Oil and Gas industry [HR 6, Vote 630, 11/18/03; Knight Rider, 11/20/03; Arizona Republic, 11/20/03]
• Congressman Blunt voted for nearly $15 billion in special interest energy tax breaks, which went overwhelmingly to Big Oil companies. [HR 6, Vote 445, 7/28/05; New York Times; Public Interest Research Group, League of Conservation Voters; HR 4, Vote 320, 8/02/01; Los Angeles Times, 8/3/01; Taxpayers for Commonsense, 7/31/01]
• Congressman Blunt voted for more than $1 billion for a special tax cut for their work overseas. [Vote 333, 7/22/99; Vote 379, 8/5/99; USA Today, 8/17/99; New York Times, 7/21/99]

Long time Washington incumbent Congressman Blunt has 8 opponents, including Tea Party favorite State Senator Chuck Purgason, in the Missouri primary for U.S. Senate.

For more information about the Missouri Democratic Party visit www.MissouriDems.org and follow us on Twitter www.Twitter.com/MoDemParty.

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Courtesy of www.barackobama.com.

Last night I volunteered at the OFA Missouri office on California Avenue in St. Louis. It had been some time since I had done voter contact and I had forgotten how much fun it can be. Two days away from the special election, I was making calls to Boston, MA asking folks to vote for Martha Coakley for US Senate and to help out her campaign as we enter the final stretch.

When I introduced myself as the party chair from St. Louis, people were very appreciative that I was calling and told me that my call underscored how important the Senate race in MA was to our country.

One voter, Matt, was watching a playoff football game with some friends when I called. I stated why I was calling and he was floored that I would call from St. Louis. I told him that if I could, I’d be in Boston right now knocking on doors for Martha (right after the game). I asked him to be my surrogate instead.

“Matt do us in Missouri a favor – go over to the campaign field office and volunteer for a couple of hours.”

He said, “Grassroots got us here and efforts like yours tonight will help us reshape our nation!”

Matt signed up for a shift in a Boston field office!

Do yourself a favor – help elect a Democrat to Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat by finding an OFA phone bank or go to www.barackobama.com to learn how to help move the President’s agenda forward.

Just like Matt, you can make the difference.

Brian Wahby

Chairman

St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee

It’s election day in St. Louis! Don’t forget to swing by your polling place on your lunch break or after work to vote.

Cast your ballot for Joe Keaveny!