Fundraising disclosures for the Texas Senate race show that Bill White is a top recipient from the Oil and Gas sector.
From the Dallas Morning News:
This morning's Politico carries a special section on climate change legislation that mentions the top beneficiaries of the energy industry's 2008 campaign cycle donations. The oil and gas sector -- with perhaps the most to lose from the legislation -- gave the most. Top beneficiary: Senator John Cornyn, with $667,600.
It's no surprise that Cornyn cleaned up with donations from oil and gas interests. Texas is the leading producer of both commodities among U.S. states, and the industry is famously loyal to the GOP (and vice versa). Cornyn was up for reelection last year, and was a member of the Senate GOP leadership, which fought legislation that would have pinched the industry's profits.
Cornyn could be even more important to the industry in 2010, if the controversial climate change bill finds a seam to advance through the Senate. He is chairman of the NRSC, which would pillory any climate bill as an "energy tax." He's also inclined to fight on behalf of oil and gas employers throughout Texas, most of which would oppose the bill.
Yet it's Houston Mayor Bill White, who is running for Senate to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is the top recipient of oil and gas money in the current election cycle. White is a former deputy secretary of energy in the Clinton administration who is well liked by Houston's business community (a group dominated by energy interests). So where does White stand on the climate bill that passed the House in May? His Web site's Issues section doesn't mention it.
