Utility PACs Generous to Key Lawmakers in Climate Debate. By Anne C. Mulkern, Greenwire, July 27, 2009. "Large electric utilities that rely heavily on coal poured money into re-election campaigns as the House shaped and passed landmark climate legislation, a bill that helps those businesses partly sidestep its toughest provisions. Employee-run committees for American Electric Power Co. Inc., Duke Energy Corp. and Southern Co. gave $165,000 to 70 House members in April, May and June. They sprinkled money among senators, too, contributing $46,500 to 18 Senate re-election campaigns. The money went heavily to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that amended and voted on the bill before the final floor vote. Contributions also went to lawmakers from states where the utilities have plants. Both the companies and lawmakers insisted there is no correlation between campaign contributions and votes. Watchdog groups believe the money buys influence and made the legislation friendlier to power companies. 'Companies give campaign contributions to gain access that they otherwise wouldn't have,' said Erich Pica, spokesman for environmental group Friends of the Earth. 'If you look at the provisions in the bill for coal, they got a pretty sweet deal.'"
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