EXAMPLE 2 – WHAT DOES THIS SPECIAL INTEREST CASH BUY FROM LIEBERMAN?

Lieberman supported the lobbyist-written Energy Bill in 2005 – a bill that hands over massive tax breaks to the oil industry and strips Connecticut’s ability to regulate a potential natural gas terminal in Long Island Sound. As a reward, Lieberman has received more than $72,000 in corporate PAC contributions in the last year from the energy industry – that’s almost $1,000 in energy PAC contributions per week since 2005. Since 2000, he’s raked in more than $285,000 from the energy industry. This includes PAC contributions from, among others, Texaco, Conoco, British Petroleum and Occidental Petroleum. It also includes contributions from the natural gas industry that will benefit from Lieberman’s support of stripping Connecticut’s ability to regulate the construction of natural gas terminals in Long Island Sound. Specifically, Lieberman has received contributions from the American Gas Assocation, Consolidated Natural Gas and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. [Sources: Center for Responsive Politics, Lieberman report, 2001-2006; Center for Responsive Politics, Lieberman PAC report; Hartford Courant, 8/4/06]