State’s oil, gas folks tilt to GOP

Obama donors back solar, wind

— Political contributions from Arkansans tied to the oil and gas industry far exceed those from the alternative energy sector this election cycle, and the donors tend to favor Republicans.

About 23 people involved in the industry have donated at least $5,000 to a political candidate or committee this election season, reflecting a national trend where oil and gas companies are more financially involved in politics than other sectors of the energy industry.

Of the $59 million donated nationwide this election cycle by the oil and gas industry, 90 percent of the money has gone to the Republican Party, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a group in Washington, D.C., that tracks money in politics.

Republican candidate Mitt Romney has received about $4.7 million from donors connected to the nation’s oil and gas industry, surpassing President Barack Obama’s $720,782.

During the 2008 election, Obama received $952,900 from people in the oil and gas industry, while $2.6 million flowed to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Obama’s opponent, according to the center.

Most of the money comes from individuals in the industry and not from political action committees that raise and spend money on behalf of a candidate.

Individuals may donate up to $30,800 to a national party committee per year. They are also limited to giving $10,000 a year to state, district and local party committees, according to the Federal Election Commission. Individuals may donate up to $2,500 per election to a federal-level political candidate.

Robert Madison Murphy, a member of Murphy Oil Corp.’s board of directors, has donated $46,300 since May 2011 to Republican candidates and committees.

Murphy, who gave $30,800 to the Republican National Committee in August, said he donated to the party because of Romney’s economic policies.

He also said Obama’s policies do not favor the oil and gas industry.

“He has been no friend to the oil and gas industry,” Murphy said. “Romney would be a better pick.”

Murphy said that while energy policies are a “determinant,” he is donating for many different reasons.

“I’m making the donations as a private citizen, not as a particular group or industry,” Murphy said. “My investments are of a wide range.”

Mike Davis said the election is important for the industry because the tax policies of the presidential candidates will affect small independent production and exploration companies such as Betsy Production Co. in Magnolia.

Davis is president of the company, which has about 13 full-time employees and hires contractors for certain jobs.

Davis, who donated $1,000 to Romney’s campaign in May, said he is supporting the presidential hopeful “because he’s a businessman.”

“He understands business, he understands incentives for profit, he understands incentives for investment,” Davis said. “I don’t think he would want to do anything to discourage U.S. exploration.”

The oil and gas industry hasn’t been hurt by the Obama presidency, Davis said, but progress in the industry can’t be tied to the government or the president.

“Our country, for a long, long time has been fiscally irresponsible,” he said. “I have not been impressed with what I’ve seen out of Mr. Obama.”

Representatives of the alternative-energy sector, which includes solar, biofuels and wind, have donated a total of $2 million nationally this election season.

Contributions from the alternative energy industry are split more evenly, with 58percent of donations going to Democrats and 42 percent going to Republicans. Of those donations, $128,550 have gone to Obama and $88,160 have gone to Romney.

No one from the alternative energy sector in Arkansas made a donation exceeding $5,000, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

“It doesn’t surprise me that the oil industry is participating financially at a far greater level,” said Steve Patterson, executive director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, a chapter of Advanced Energy Economy.

“They have a whole lot more resources for one thing,” he said.

The size of the donations from the oil and gas industry and alternative energy producers reflects the size of the industries, said Tim Greeff, vice president of government affairs for Advanced Energy Economy, an national organization representing the alternative energy industry.

“Mature industries see engaging in politics just as a cost of doing business,” Greeff said.

Patterson said that if Obama is re-elected, there could be more tax incentives for clean energy, whereas Romney would roll back some of the incentives, expand the use of coal-burning plants and open public land for more oil and natural gas drilling.

“It’s clear that Arkansas can play a role in either [energy source]” Patterson said. “In either case, in terms of energy production and job creation, it is going to help Arkansas.”

Political donations

Money donated in the current election cycle by

Arkansans with ties to the oil and gas industry.

Contributor Occupation Amount Recipient Date

Claiborne P. Deming self-employed $30,800 Republican National Committee 6/24/12

Elaine Deming homemaker $30,800 Republican National Committee 6/22/12

Robert Madison Murphy Investments $30,800 Republican National Committee 8/7/12

Michael W. Murphy Anglican Mission $30,800 Republican National Committee 6/16/12

Sydney Murphy Sydney Murphy Design $30,800 Republican National Committee 6/16/12

Deborah Story N/A $30,800 Republican National Committee 8/14/12

Max J. Story Reliance Well Service $30,800 Republican National Committee 8/14/12

Gary Sewell Hammond Oil Co. $30,300 Republican National Committee 8/10/12

Wade Murphy Marmik Oil Co. $28,300 Republican National Committee 7/20/12

Steven A. Cosse Murphy Oil Corp. $20,000 Republican National Committee 7/31/12

Jerry Langley Self-employed $20,000 Republican National Committee 8/8/12

James Hutton Nobles Investor $20,000 Republican National Committee 9/29/12

Wade Murphy Murphy Oil Corp./businessman $15,000 Restore Our Future 10/4/11

Michael Murphy Anglican Mission $10,000 Republican State Committee of Massachusetts 7/31/12

Michael Murphy Anglican Mission $10,000 Oklahoma Leadership Council (Republican) 7/31/12

Michael Murphy Anglican Mission $10,000 Republican Party of Idaho 7/31/12

Michael Murphy Anglican Mission $10,000 Vermont Republican Federal Elections Committee 7/31/12

Sydney Murphy Sydney Murphy Design $10,000 Vermont Republican Federal Elections Committee 7/31/12

Sydney Murphy Sydney Murphy Design $10,000 Republican Party of Idaho 7/31/12

Sydney Murphy Sydney Murphy Design $10,000 Oklahoma Leadership Council (Republican) 7/31/12

Sydney Murphy Sydney Murphy Design $10,000 Republican State Committee of Massachusetts 7/31/12

James H. Nobles Self-employed $10,000 Republican National Committee 7/25/12

James H. Nobles Self-employed/investments adviser $10,000 Republican National Committee 3/15/12

James H. Nobles Self-employed/investments adviser $10,000 Republican National Committee 12/8/11

James Hutton Nobles Self-employed/investments adviser $10,000 Republican National Committee 1/26/12

James Hutton Nobles Self-employed/investments adviser $10,000 Mitt Romney 1/26/12

Therral Story Therral Story Well service Inc. $10,000 Republican National Committee 9/5/12

SOURCE: Center for Responsive Politics Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Business, Pages 29 on 11/03/2012

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