Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced today that he will hold the extension of middle class tax cuts hostage unless an unrelated provision about the Keystone XL oil pipeline project is included—a major handout to his Big Oil donors that could leave millions of Americans facing a tax increase in the new year.

So, who’s the biggest Senate recipient of oil and gas industry money so far in 2011? Mitch McConnell.

He has received $199,00 from oil and gas interests so far in 2011, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), whose campaign committee and leadership PAC have received $107,350 from the industry, also wants the Keystone provision included.

Here are some other numbers on the industry’s giving this year:

  • Of the $1.5 million oil and gas industry donations members of the U.S. Senate have received this year, 78% has gone to McConnell and his Republican colleagues—roughly $1.2 million to $334,585.
  • The top nine Senate recipients of oil and gas industry money so far in 2011 are Republicans.
Senator Oil and Gas Money (2011)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)

$199,000

Barrasso, John A (R-WY)

$177,900

Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT)

$104,000

Wicker, Roger (R-MS)

$94,200

Corker, Bob (R-TN)

$89,250

Cornyn, John (R-TX)

$69,400

Heller, Dean (R-NV)

$66,500

Brown, Scott P (R-MA)

$61,750

Inhofe, James M (R-OK)

$55,950

  • Speaker Boehner and his Republican colleagues have received 88% of the oil and gas industry campaign contributions to House members this year—roughly $4.2 million to Democrats $568,650.
  • The top 30 House recipients of oil and gas industry money so far in 2011 are Republicans. The top 10 are listed below.
House Member Oil and Gas Money (2011)
Berg, Richard A (R-ND)

$146,300

Pompeo, Mike (R-KS)

$129,500

Flores, William (R-TX)

$119,756

McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA)

$119,200

Rehberg, Denny (R-MT)

$109,402

Sullivan, John (R-OK)

$93,700

Cantor, Eric (R-VA)

$93,050

Fleming, John (R-LA)

$85,100

Camp, Dave (R-MI)

$83,000

Boehner, John (R-OH)

$81,350

Originally posted by Adam Smith over at the essential Public Campaign.

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