Twenty-two members of the House of Representatives recently sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, asking him to hold a debate on the House floor about the science of climate change. "As the nation's leading scientists have told us, climate change is one of the most serious threats we and future generations will confront," they wrote in the letter. "We therefore ask you and your Republican colleagues to debate us on the House floor about the dangers of climate change and the appropriate policy response."
Data: MapLight analysis of campaign contributions to members of the House from top carbon-emitting interests from January 1, 2011—December 31, 2012. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org
- Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, who controls what gets debated on the floor of the House, has received $1,131,323 from carbon-polluting interests, more than any other member of the House.
- Representatives signing the letter requesting a debate on climate science have received, on average, 77% less money from carbon-polluting interests than Representatives not signing the letter.
- House Republicans have received, on average, 4 times more money from carbon-polluting interests than House Democrats.
Industry contribution data included in the study: Gas & Electric Utilities, Independent oil & gas producers, Petroleum refining & marketing, Chemicals, Major (multinational) oil & gas producers, Coal mining, Trucking companies & services, Oil & Gas, Livestock, Natural Gas transmission & distribution, Oilfield service, equipment & exploration, Forestry & Forest products, Airlines, Steel
Image: Speaker John Boehner/Flickr
