July 27, 2011 - The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill (HR 1938) by a vote of 279-147 that would direct President Obama to expedite consideration and approval of the construction and operation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The pipeline would run from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
The measure is supported by the American Petroleum Institute, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, as well as the National Association of Manufacturers and the United Association, a building trade union. The bill is opposed by environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Industries Supporting HR 1938
- Oil & Gas interest groups gave on average 7.7 times as much to House members who voted 'YES' ($6,097) as they gave to House members who voted 'NO' ($788).
- Petroleum refining & marketing interest groups gave on average 7.4 times as much to House members who voted 'YES' ($5,812) as they gave to House members who voted 'NO' ($790).
- Manufacturing interest groups gave on average 5.1 times as much to House members who voted 'YES' ($485) as they gave to House members who voted 'NO' ($95).
- The above interest groups combined gave on average 7.4 times as much to House members who voted 'YES' ($12,395) as they gave to House members who voted 'NO' ($1,673).
Industries Opposing HR 1938
- Environmental policy interest groups gave on average 4.8 times as much to House members who voted 'NO' ($5,100) as they gave to House members who voted 'YES' ($1,060).
Building Trade Unions
Unions historically favor Democrats over Republicans, which holds true with Building trade unions as well. When looking at the chamber as a whole, Building trade unions (which support this measure) gave on average 75% less to House members who voted 'YES' ($9,837) than to House members who voted 'NO' ($39,693). However:
- Building trade unions gave on average 44 times as much to House Republicans who voted 'YES' ($3,658) as they gave to House Republicans who voted 'NO' ($83).
- Building trade unions gave on average roughly equal amounts to House Democrats who voted 'YES' ($40,339) and House Democrats who voted 'NO' ($40,518).
Methodology: MapLight analysis of campaign contributions to House members in office on day of vote, from interest groups invested in the vote according to MapLight, January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2010. Campaign contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org
