BP is not an American corporation but it does contribute to American political candidates. For example, The BP (PAC) gave $219,500 to federal candidates in the 05/06 election cycle – 34% to Democrats, 65% to Republicans.  A summary of the BP PAC data is below, from Open Secrets (www.OpenSecrets.org/pacs/).

2010
Total Spent – $173,781
Contributions to Federal Candidates – $75,550 (42% to Democrats, 58% to Republicans)

2008
Total Spent – $619,255
Contributions to Federal Candidates – $198,500 (41% to Democrats, 59% to Republicans)

2006
Total Spent – $601,696
Contributions to Federal Candidates – $219,500 (34% to Democrats, 65% to Republicans)

2004
Total Spent – $678,337
Contributions to Federal Candidates – $220,499 (38% to Democrats, 62% to Republicans)

BP is one of the largest energy company contributors to both Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress. These contributions total $122,300 to the 110th US Congress (as of the third quarter), the largest of which has been to Rep. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).  Rep. Landrieu, for her part, has been supportive of the oil industry on energy, war and climate bills. Updated information will be available from more recent reports. More information on oil industry contributions to Congress can be found at FollowtheOilMoney.org, created by Oil Change International.

The company spent $3,650,000 for lobbying in 2006. BP used several lobbying firms but most lobbying was done with its in-house lobbyists.

BP’s lobbying focuses on tax incentives for oil and gas production and opposes mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions and following U.S. trade relations and policy in the Middle East. Through membership in a trade association known as the Organization for International Investment, BP has lobbied to gain exemptions from U.S. corporate law reforms. BP has withdrawn from a coalition advocating for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but continues to seek access to the area.* 

(*1993-1995: Hazardous Substance Crime BP Exploration (Alaska), one of BP’s U.S. subsidiaries, pleaded guilty to dumping hazardous waste on Alaska’s North Slope on September 23, 1999. BP agreed to pay $22 million dollars to resolve the criminal case as well as related civil claims, and 2006: Alaska Prudhoe Bay Oil Spill cases The U.S. Department of Justice sued BP on behalf of the EPA on March 31, 2009, seeking millions of dollars in fines for alleged water and air pollution violations and failure to meet deadlines in a corrective action order from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. BP also currently faces a civil suit brought by the state of Alaska. The criminal charges against BP for the Prudhoe oil spill were settled by a plea deal in late 2007; BP was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $20 million in penalties.)

BP has several powerful lobbying connections. They are currently working with the in response to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Brunswick’s Washington D.C. office includes Hilary Rosen, former Democratic congressional aide; Anthony Coley and David Sutphen, both former aides to the late Senator Edward Kennedy; and Michele Davis, former Treasury department officer under former president George W. Bush and GOP congressional aide.

BP also employs the Podesta Group, led by Anthony Podesta. Podesta’s brother is John Podesta, former president Bill Clinton’s Chief of Staff.

Other major lobbyists include Jim Turner, former House Democrat of Texas, now with the Arnold & Porter firm; Ken Duberstein, former White House Chief of Staff under former president Reagan; republican Michelle Laxalt; and Michel Berman, president of the Duberstein firm.

Editor’s Note: The sedonaeye.com acknowledges SourceWatch for contributing research (with minor ST edits) to this post. In Arizona, BP gas is also marketed as AmPm gas centers. BP’s major brands include BP, AmPm, Arco, and Castrol. BP is a British corporation and as recently as May 2008, BP along with other oil companies, agreed to pay $423 million to settle a lawsuit brought by hundreds of public water suppliers.