Lobbying Firms Doubting Science | Political Report Cards

Doubting Science. Why?

LOBBYING FIRMS DOUBTING SCIENCE

Some of the prominent industry names include Exxon Mobil, BP, Ford and BASF, along with environmental groups like the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund. The involved companies and groups have significant influence in Washington, spending a combined $55.8 million on lobbying last year.

1.The Nature Conservancy is considered a Big Green environmental group, one of the largest and most prominent in the world. It is a member of Natural Resources Council of America. It “sits on nearly a billion dollars in assets and is awash in cash, thanks to a tidal wave of corporate donations, much of it from notorious polluters such as Arco.

2.The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions describes itself as an “independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to advance strong policy and action to address the twin challenges of energy and climate change.However, the strategic partners and major contributors listed on its website include many large utility and power companies, like General Electric, Entergy, Shell, Alcoa, and Duke Energy. At its formation in 2011, Think Progress referred to it as an “explicitly corporate-managed organization.

3.Exxon Mobil is the world’s largest oil company. It is involved in oil and gas exploration, production, supply, transportation, and marketing around the world.The Center for Media and Democracy and Common Cause filed a formal complaint with the IRS presenting extensive evidence alleging that ExxonMobil and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) were running an illegal scheme to promote the oil giant’s climate denial policies and legislative agenda in violation of U.S. tax law governing charitable organizations.

4.BASF SE is the world’s largest chemical company and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Its North American subsidiary is BASF Corporation. It is one of the “Big 6” Biotech Corporations, along with Bayer, Dupont, Dow Chemical Company, Syngenta, and Monsanto. BASF spends a lot of money on federal lobbying. Top issues lobbied being tariffs, manufacturing, consumer product safety, chemical industry, and energy and nuclear power.

5.Ford Motor Company, commonly referred to as Ford, is one of the world’s largest car and truck manufacturers. Brands include Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury. Ford owns a 33% controlling stake in Mazda and also controls the Land Rover, Jaguar, and Volvo brands. Ford family members own about 40% of the company’s voting stock.While Ford has sought to re-position itself as a ‘green’ manufacturer, it remains an opponent of mandatory fuel efficiency standards. On its website Ford states that “market based initiatives, not mandated increases, are the best method of improving fuel economy.