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Republicans That Urged Trump To Exit Paris Are Funded By Fossil Fuel Companies

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Robin Andrews

Science & Policy Writer

This is the least surprising news story of all time. Alexander G/Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0

When you’re wondering why politicians vote or act one way or the other, the best thing to do is follow the money. So it will come as no surprise whatsoever to anyone that the 22 Republican Senators that signed an anti-Paris letter a few days ago are all heavily funded by big oil and coal corporations.

The letter, signed by some of the most prominent climate change deniers in the land, including Senator James “Snowball Thrower” Inhofe, praised Trump for all the work he’s done reversing Obama-era climate measures so far.

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“We applaud you for your ongoing efforts to reduce overregulation in America,” it reads. “To continue on this path, we urge you to make a clean exit from the Paris agreement so that your administration can follow through on its commitment to rescind the Clean Power Plan.”

Despite thousands of businesses, energy giants, his own daughter, many in his own administration, the Pope, most of America, and the entirety of the rest of the world urging Trump to stay in the Paris agreement, it seems these short-sighted, greedy, and downright nationalistic views prevailed – sadly, to no one’s surprise.

It’s also not shocking, as the Guardian pointed out, that these Senators are long-time recipients of donations from fossil fuel industries, particularly oil and gas. In total, over the last three election cycles (2012, 2014, 2016 midterms), they have received $10,694,284.

Here’s a complete list of the Senators that signed the letter, ranked in descending order of fossil fuel company donations, along with their contact details so you can get in touch with them. In addition, we’ve used the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) to compare their donation levels to how many times they’ve voted for a pro-environmental piece of legislation during their entire political career.

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1 - Ted Cruz, Texas ($2,569,810)

LCV score: 3 percent

#: (202) 224-5922

2 - Mitch McConnell, Kentucky ($1,542,084)

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LCV score: 7 percent

#: (202) 224-2541

3 - John Cornyn, Texas ($1,134,506)

LCV score: 5 percent

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#: (202) 224-2934

4 - John Barrasso, Wyoming ($585,822)

LCV score: 9 percent

#: (202) 224-6441

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5 - Tim Scott, South Carolina ($548,276)

LCV score: 3 percent

#: (202) 224-6121

6 - James Inhofe, Oklahoma ($529,550)

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LCV score: 5 percent

#: (202) 224-4721

7 - Orrin Hatch, Utah ($471,250)

LCV score: 10 percent

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#: (202) 224-5251

8 - Roy Blunt, Missouri ($449,864)

LCV score: 5 percent

#: (202) 224-5721

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9 - Pat Roberts, Kansas ($417,775)

LCV score: 9 percent

#: (202) 224-4774

10 - Thad Cochran, Mississippi ($291,905)

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LCV score: 10 percent

#: (202) 224-5054

11- Michael Enzi, Wyoming ($274,383)

LCV score: 5 percent

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#: (202) 224-3424

12 - Thom Tillis, North Carolina ($263,400)

LCV score: 10 percent

#: (202) 224-6342

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13 - Mike Lee, Utah ($253,415)

LCV score: 9 percent

#: (202) 224-5444

14 - Rand Paul, Kentucky ($252,786)

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LCV score: 9 percent

#: (202) 224-4343

15 - Roger Wicker, Mississippi ($224,192)

LCV score: 6 percent

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#: (202) 224-6253

16 - Mike Rounds, South Dakota ($201,900)

LCV score: 5 percent

#: (202) 224-5842

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17 - David Perdue, Georgia ($184,250)

LCV score: 0 percent

#: (202) 224-3521

18 - John Boozman, Arkansas ($149,930)

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LCV score: 7 percent

#: (202) 224-4843

19 - Jim Risch, Idaho ($149,530)

LCV score: 9 percent

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#: (202) 224-2752

20 - Mike Crapo, Idaho ($137,006)

LCV score: 7 percent

#: (202) 224-6142

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21 - Richard Shelby, Alabama ($62,650)

LCV score: 14 percent

#: (202) 224-5744

22 - Luther Strange, Alabama (Running in 2017, funding unavailable)

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If you’re not happy with this sort of money turning America into an international pariah and an environmentally scarred dump, then you can do something about it – vote in the upcoming midterms for politicians that do care about climate change and science.

[H/T: Guardian]


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