WASHINGTON — BP and the oil and gas industry have a long history of vast expenditures on lobbying and campaign finance efforts, but by and large, Minnesota legislators aren’t on the receiving end.

Because Minnesota is not a giant oil center, state lawmakers here are almost completely absent from BP’s list of contribution recipients — and every member of the Minnesota delegation who does make the list receives less from the oil and gas industry than the average for their party and chamber.

The gap persists despite the fact that Minnesotans play key roles on committees that plan the future of transportation in America, including policies on mass transit and alternative fuels.

“Money that is usually given is extremely targeted. We don’t have much of an oil and gas industry in the state and therefore there aren’t many contributions,” said Professor Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.

And BP isn’t the only member of the oil and gas industry that ignores Minnesota. 

In the 2008 race, an average Republican Senate candidate received $144,000 with Democrats getting nearly $52,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry.

Sen. Al Franken received roughly $13,000, but the majority of oil and gas funds flowed to Republican incumbent Norm Coleman, who got more than $170,000. Campaign finance records don’t show any oil and gas contributions for Sen. Amy Klobuchar that cycle.

In terms of BP, Rep. Jim Oberstar received $1,000 from the firm in 2006 and again in 2008. Rep. Keith Ellison received a mere $400 in 2008 from a single individual in Houston who listed BP as his employer. Rep. Michele Bachmann has received only $250 for the 2010 election cycle from a BP employee. In 2008, House Democrats received on average nearly $13,000 and Republicans roughly $31,000 from the oil and gas industry.

BP ranked 15th in the oil and gas industry for PAC contributions to federal candidates in 2008 with $198,500. BP has dropped to the 19th spot with about $75,000 contributed as of the end of May 2010. 

The greatest contributor in 2008 among the oil and gas industry, with nearly $2 million in spending, was Koch Industries, a Kansas company that owns various companies involved in manufacturing, trade, investments and distribution and refining of petroleum.

Koch has a broad presence in Minnesota, and its pipelines transport crude oil to Minnesota refineries and also supply much of the jet fuel to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The company’s PAC donated to Bachmann and Reps. John Kline, Erik Paulsen and Collin Peterson in 2008.

The oil and gas industry’s influence expands beyond campaign finances with roughly $170 million spent on lobbying expenditures in 2009 alone, with BP dedicating nearly $16 million to lobbying efforts.

Additionally, personal finance disclosures showed no Minnesota legislators have assets in BP or Transocean (the company operating the rig in the Gulf) eliminating a personal conflict of interest when it comes to policy opinions regarding the oil disaster. 

Contributions don’t match clout

States such as Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska and Louisiana historically receive the greatest contributions from the oil and gas industry because of the large oil and mineral extraction in these areas. 

And yet there are many Minnesota lawmakers that have considerable clout regarding policy that affects the oil and gas industry and will play a major role in determining a long-term response to the spill. 

Oberstar serves as the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which oversees the Coast Guard, waterways and pipelines. Yet he only received a $1,000 contribution from BP in both 2006 and 2008 and has received no funds for the 2010 election. Oberstar has been a leader in promoting mass transit, which, Jacobs said, “may be seen as an alternative to the petroleum sector.”

“Jim regulates pipelines, rail ... he does have a great deal of oversight,” said John Schadl, Oberstar’s press secretary. 

But despite Oberstar’s influence in the transportation industry and being a “harsh critic” of current pipeline practices, Schadl said, the oil and gas industry hasn’t reached out considerably to the 8th District congressman.

As chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Peterson is the lead author and procedural steward of the Farm Bill, which included more than $1 billion in funds for renewable energy programs. However, most renewables legislation tracks outside of his committee's purview.

Liz Friedlander, a spokeswoman for the House Agriculture Committee, said that “the oil and gas industry has not reached out to the [Agriculture Committee]. This really isn't surprising since most renewable legislation does not fall under” the committee's jurisdiction.

Despite similar mineral extraction industries, North Dakota’s candidates tend to receive more oil and gas money. The key difference there is Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, who serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (which poses far greater short-term implications for the oil and gas industry).

Dorgan has received the third most from BP in 2010 with a $2,000 contribution. BP has contributed a total of $27,000 to Senate candidates for the 2010 election cycle. (BP’s greatest contribution for 2010 thus far was $5,000 for Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska).

Jacobs said contributors are more concerned about supporting candidates that share their interests and policy stances on pressing matters.

“People giving money are extremely short-term-focused,” Jacobs said.

Lauren Knobbe is an intern in MinnPost's D.C. bureau.