The natural gas industry and related trade groups have now given nearly $8 million to Pennsylvania state candidates and political committees since 2000, according to new research by Common Cause Pennsylvania and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania.

Top recipients of industry money given between 2000 and April 2012 were Gov. Tom Corbett with $1,813,205.59, Senate President Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) with $359,145.72, Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana) with $137,532.33, House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) with $98,600, and Sen. Don White (R-Indiana) with $94,150.

Total contributions from natural gas interests between 2000 and 2012: $8 million

Total lobbying expenditures by natural gas interests between 2007 and 2012: $15.7 million

After reaching an all-time annual high of $1.6 million in 2010, contributions declined to $560,800 in 2011. Lobbying expenditures surged during this same period, however, with $5 million being spent in 2011, an increase of $1 million from 2010. An additional $1.8 million was spent in the first three months of 2012, bringing the total since Q1 2007 to $15.7 million.

Pennsylvania continues to be one of just 11 states that fail to limit campaign contributions, and the state’s failure to require electronic filing of campaign finance reports has resulted in delays by the Pennsylvania Department of State in making these reports available on its website.

According to Common Cause, less than half of the reports due to be filed by all candidates at the end of last March were available on the DOS website as of April 20, just four days before the April 24 primary.

A detailed breakdown of contributions is available online.

NewsClip: Drilling Industry Contributions To PA Politicians Down

7/16/2012