U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has come under scrutiny after receiving a $40,000 campaign donation from the political action committee (PAC) of a Big Oil CEO allegedly involved in collusion to inflate energy prices. The watchdog group Accountable.US highlighted this contribution on Monday.
The donation came from the Williams Companies PAC, which includes Pioneer Natural Resources CEO Scott Sheffield on its board. Sheffield was accused by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last month of engaging in private conversations with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), where he allegedly promised to limit production, thereby creating an artificial scarcity to drive up oil prices.
Scalise, known for opposing initiatives to protect public lands from fossil fuel drilling, ranks fourth among House lawmakers in campaign contributions from oil and gas interests for the 2023-24 cycle. According to OpenSecrets, Scalise has received $325,833 from Big Oil, trailing only Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) with $572,421, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) with $335,399, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) with $328,019.
“Big Oil CEOs are out for themselves and the politicians who support their quest to drill for profit at the expense of the American people,” said Chris Marshall, spokesperson for Accountable.US. “If Congressman Scalise wants to protect American consumers, he should start by holding accountable Big Oil price gougers.”
The FTC’s complaint alleges that Sheffield, through both public statements and private communications, attempted to collude with OPEC and OPEC+ to reduce oil and gas output, which would result in higher prices at the pump for American consumers and increased profits for his company. Consequently, the FTC barred Sheffield from joining the board of ExxonMobil, which recently acquired Pioneer.
“Mr. Sheffield’s past conduct makes it crystal clear that he should be nowhere near Exxon’s boardroom,” stated Kyle Mach, Deputy Director of the FTC Bureau of Competition. “American consumers shouldn’t pay unfair prices at the pump simply to pad a corporate executive’s pocketbook.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also addressed the issue, urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate potential collusion and price fixing within the oil industry.
“It’s not hard to feel the frustration—the sheer exasperation—felt by millions when America’s biggest oil companies rake in record profits but still raise prices at the pump,” Schumer said. “It is deeply, deeply unfair—and now we have reason to believe that in some cases it may be unlawful.”
Schumer called the FTC allegations against Sheffield “very, very troubling” and emphasized the need for DOJ intervention.
“This is what frustrates Americans so much about Big Oil: Even when they’re making money hand over fist, they’ll keep raising prices on us, they will keep squeezing us for everything we’ve got,” he continued. “And now they may—may—have crossed the line into unlawful behavior.”
“The DOJ needs to step in and determine if any laws against collusion or price-fixing have been broken,” Schumer added. “At minimum, the American people deserve to know if Big Oil executives are conspiring with each other or with OPEC behind our backs to illegally raise prices at the pump.”
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