Gusher: Money from oil industry keeps flowing to congress

From the Washington Post:

Lobbyists for BP hosted at least 53 fundraising parties for lawmakers and candidates in recent years — four of them since the explosion and oil spill at a BP-run oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a watchdog group’s analysis.

Nine of the 11 known fundraisers this year were hosted by lobbyist Tony Podesta or other lobbyists for his firm, the Podesta Group, who represent the company as well as many other interests…

Other oil and gas concerns have raised cash for lawmakers, too, sometimes with uncomfortable timing. On May 12, executives including BP’s chairman, Lamar McKay, Transocean chief executive Steve Newman and Halliburton’s Timothy Probert appeared before a hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss responsibility for their respective roles in the Deepwater Horizon spill. About an hour earlier, House Republicans had gathered a few blocks away for an “oil and gas breakfast” fundraiser with industry members to benefit Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex).