Corker Campaign Fueled by Pilot Oil Largess
From the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: With Tennessee paying record prices at the pump, Bob Corker is raking in thousands of dollars in campaign cash from Pilot Oil and the rest of the oil and gas industry. In fact, he has taken more oil & gas money than any other non-incumbent this cycle. Corker’s campaign finance chair is Jimmy Haslam, the CEO of Pilot Oil. “Bob Corker might be campaigning as the consummate outsider, but he’s financing his campaign like the ultimate insider,” DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said.
Corker’s Finance Chair A Big Oil CEO. Corker’s campaign finance chair is “Gas Station King” Jimmy Haslam, the CEO of Pilot Oil, a Big Oil giant with $4 billion in annual revenues. [Chattanooga Times Free Press, 2/9/05; Knoxville News Sentinel, 3/9/03]
Haslams, Pilot Oil Have Poured Money Into Corker’s Coffers. Jimmy Haslam, his family, and other executives of Pilot Oil have contributed $33,100 to Corker’s campaign. No single corporation has contributed more to any Tennessee Senate campaign this year. As finance chair of Corker’s campaign, Haslam has been responsible for helping Corker raise over $5.5 million so far. With Haslam’s help, Corker has raised more money from the oil and gas industry than any other non-incumbent Senate candidate this cycle. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 5/24/06]
Haslam’s “Investment” In GOP Candidates Pays Off. “You don’t give money to political campaigns,” Jimmy Haslam once said. “You invest money in political candidates who believe in what you believe.” Over the years, Haslam has “invested” million in Big Oil’s GOP friends. Since 1994 Haslam, his family, and his friends at Pilot Oil have given $1.1 million to Republican candidates, 527s and PACs. Haslam was rewarded for these “investments” with a seat on George Bush’s commerce transition team in 2000. [Gannett News Service, 1/17/05; WhiteHouseForSale.com, accessed 5/24/06; Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 5/24/06; National Institute for Money in State Politics, accessed 5/24/06]
Gas Prices 34% Higher Than A Year Ago. While Haslam has been helping Corker rake in money from Big Oil, Tennessee’s consumers have continued to suffer. Tennessee’s average gas price is currently $2.70, which represents an increase of 68 cents from just a year earlier, a 34% increase. [AAA Fuel Gauge Report, accessed 5/24/06]
