The presidential conventions are right around the corner, and corporate donors and lobbyists are taking full advantage of loopholes to schmooze with political bigwigs. A $112 million flood of special interest money, and the lavish parties and wining and dining it pays for at the conventions, runs counter to the spirit of ethics rules. Much of this money is given under the pretense of boosting the economies of the host cities; in fact, the benefits of this boosterism are minimal.
In 2007, oil companies received $9 billion in government subsidies, considerably more than the $5.8 billion spent on all federal renewable energy and energy conservation programs. Tell your senators to stop subsidizing big oil with taxpayer dollars; the money could be better spent on investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency needed to combat climate change.
