The oil and gas industry has contributed more than $17 million to federal candidates and parties this election cycle and has ramped up donations to Democrats, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Republicans still receive the bulk of the contributions, but Democrats, many from energy-producing regions, have received 26%, up from 18% in the last election cycle.
The stakes for the industry are huge.
A move to repeal $12 billion to $18 billion in oil industry tax breaks is one vote shy of overcoming a Republican-led filibuster in the Senate.
As well, a drive to force oil companies to pay billions of dollars in royalties to the U.S. Treasury for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico also could gain momentum if Democrats, as expected, expand their majorities in the House and Senate.
Overall, the end of the Bush presidency is likely to make the political climate more difficult for the industry.
If Democrats expand their congressional majorities, said Tyson Slocum, director of the consumer group Public Citizen's energy program: "Prospects will be very good for consumers -- and bad for oil companies."
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richard.simon@latimes.com
