James E Risch is a Republican senator from Idaho who has been serving in this role since 2009. One important factor in determining personal and social responsibility in a politician is to look at the contributions that go into the election/campaign funds he relies on. The top 5 contributors to Senator Risch from 2009-2014 were Koch Industries, Hewlett-Packard, blue-cross and Blue Shield, Raytheon Co. and National Beer wholesalers. The top industries contributing were Leadership PACs(Political Action Committees), and Oil & Gas.
Another source of conflict could come from the leading industry contributing. The Political action committee, while their direct contribution to the candidate is known, their spending, which is uncapped, does not need to be reported or accounted for. Reports of who contributes to the PACS shows up in reports later, and their independent spending can be found with some work. While their influence on the candidate is indented to be buffered by the restriction on direct communication or collaboration, their influence has not been completely eliminated.
As a candidate this politician has not raised or spent as much as the average candidate. Between 2007 and 2014 he has raised $5.9 million, of which he has spent $4.65 million, leaving him with an overall campaign surplus. The majority of these funds came from energy producers. This may constitute a conflict of interest, as Sen Risch is a member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Other conflicts that may be present are related to numerous big business contributors and his seats on the committee on small business and entrepreneurship and Select committee on Ethics.
The bills proposed by this senator do not seem to reflect a position in favor of coal or oil. His sponsored bills, in relation to energy, are mostly in support of extending deadlines for clean energy production. An example of this kind of legislation is the “A bill to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the Little Wood River Ranch”(S.275), cosponsored by Sen. Mike Crapo.
Sponsored bills do not necessarily tell the entire story as many of the positions a political figure will support are in the form of votes and influence in committees. According to a keynote speech given by Risch, he is in support of a comprehensive approach to energy. This includes oil, natural gas, nuclear, solar, hydroelectric, and wind. Some of the support given by this senator has been directly beneficial to the energy producers, such as Koch industries and other oil companies.
On June 18, 2014, Sen. Risch stated that he appreciated the Keystone XL pipeline bill being brought up for discussion but he also stated that he realized “[the Keystone Pipeline bill] isn’t going anywhere.” The senator has also been on record voting in favor of bills to move forward with this plan. On March 22, 2013, for example, he voted aye on a bill to approve the plans to build this pipeline.
There may be other areas in which conflicts of interest occur but the senator has voted to stop stricter requirements on campaign contribution transparency, voting against cloture in 2012 to bring such a bill to the floor for discussion. It is clear from being reelected that his caucus believes they are being served, but conflicts of interest and corruption from campaign finance sources cannot be ruled out.
- Center for Responsible Politics. (n.d.). Sen. James E. Risch. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?type=C&cid=N00029441&newMem=N&cycle=2014#fundraising
- Dlouhy, J. A. (2014, June 18). Retrieved from Fuel Fix: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/06/18/bill-to-approve-keystone-xl-advances-in-senate/
- Intermountain Energy Summit. (2014). Keynote Address. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from Intermountain Energy Summit: http://www.intermountainenergysummit.com/
- New American. (n.d.). The Freedom Index. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from New American: http://www.thenewamerican.com/freedomindex/profile.php?id=R000584
- Sen. James Risch. (n.d.). Committee Assignments. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from Sen. James Risch: http://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committeeassignments
