Soft Money Contributions & The Environment

The current campaign finance system allows polluting industries to contribute millions of dollars to political parties that offer access and influence in Congress. A loophole in the campaign finance laws allows corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals to give large donations, known as "soft money," to political party organizations without regulation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Contributions to candidates for federal office are strictly limited by law and must be reported to the FEC; soft money contributions to the national party organizations are neither limited by law nor regulated by the FEC.

During the 2000 election cycle (1999-2000) the national party committees raised more than $457 million in soft money contributions. Some of the largest contributors of soft money are industries such as the mining, timber and oil industries that pollute our nation's air, land and water and seek to weaken our environmental protections. These enormous soft money contributions stand in stark contrast to the significantly smaller amounts of money raised and spent by environmental organizations such as the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) to support candidates. For example, during the 2000 election cycle LCV spent $4.1 million dollars to support environmental interests in campaigns.

By banning soft money the McCain/Feingold/Cochran bill will help to reduce the influence of wealthy special interests on public policy. S. 27 will help ensure that government decisions are based on what is good for the environment, not what is good for large contributors.

Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
For many years the oil industry has lobbied to open the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. In 2000 the Senate budget resolution included a provision that would have taken an important first step towards allowing oil exploration in this pristine wilderness area. Fifty-one Senators voted to open the Arctic Refuge to drilling. The strong opposition of President Clinton to drilling in the Arctic derailed a similar effort in 1995. However, this year the Senate is poised to consider an energy bill that would allow oil companies to drill in the Refuge-using currently high oil and gas prices as a pretext for the destruction of this unique wild place. Former oilmen President Bush and Vice President Cheney, along with many members of the Cabinet, support drilling in the Refuge.

Oil and gas industries gave $13,459,134 in soft money to political parties during the 2000 election cycle.

Haze in our National Parks
In 1999 the Environmental Protection Agency developed new rules to reduce air pollution and improve visibility in national parks such as the Grand Canyon. In February 2000 representatives from industry groups, including the mining industry and the National Mining Association, sent a letter urging EPA Administrator Christine Whitman to rescind these rules, arguing that they are too costly for industry.

Mining industries gave $2,546,447 in soft money to political parties during the 2000 election cycle.

Wasteful Timber Subsidies
According to the General Accounting Office, the Forest Service's timber sales program lost $1 billion between 1995 and 1997. Attempts to reduce funding for this heavily subsidized program during consideration of the 2001 budget for the Forest Service failed to pass the House by a vote of 173 to 249 and failed to pass the Senate by a vote of 45 to 54.

The forestry and forest products industry gave $3,542,440 in soft money contributions to political parties during the 2000 election cycle.

Interfering with Local Zoning Laws
Representative Charles Canady (R-FL), at the urging of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), sponsored a bill in 2000 that would allow developers to challenge local land use, zoning and environmental laws directly in federal court, bypassing local elected officials and land use procedures, as well as state courts. Opponents such as the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities argued that the bill, if passed, would allow developers to use the threat of premature, costly federal lawsuits to coerce small towns, counties and cities into approving inappropriate projects that would harm local residents and the environment. Yet on March 16, 2000, the House voted 226-182 to pass the bill.

Home building industries gave $1,751,226 in soft money contributions to the parties during the 2000 election cycle.

Blocking More Fuel Efficient Cars and Trucks
Raising the government standards for fuel efficiency in car and trucks would save millions of barrels of oil each year and would go a long way towards reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Until very recently, automakers opposed to raising the limits because of the costs involved. Since 1995, Department of Transportation appropriations bills have included a rider, first introduced by House Republican Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX), that barred the Department from increasing fuel economy standards-or even studying a possible increase. In 1999, during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2000 Transportation Appropriations bill, a resolution sponsored by Senators Slade Gorton (R-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Richard Bryan (D-NV) to urge an increase in the fuel economy was defeated by a vote of 40 to 55.

Auto Manufactures gave $241,890 in soft money contributions to political parties during the 2000 election cycle.

Blocking Clean Air Rules
In 1997 the EPA developed strict new rules regarding ozone emissions that were immediately challenged in court by the American Trucking Association, among others. Although the new ozone rules would substantially reduce the risk of permanent lung damage for millions of Americans, a rider attached to the EPA's appropriations bill for 2001 that prohibited EPA identifying areas that fail to meet the new ozone standard. This rider, which prevented EPA from informing communities that their air quality violates federal health standards, was supported by 225 Representatives. An attempt by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to strip the air right to know rider from the bill on the Senate floor failed to pass by a vote of 32 to 63.

The trucking industry gave $1,308,643 in soft money contributions to political parties during the 2000 election.