Nuclear lobbying - 2 types of content in one article

[kristopher]

"...Since the crisis started unfolding in Japan, the industry's lobbying machine in Washington has leapt to contain the political fallout, hosting briefings for lawmakers and staffers on both sides of the Capitol. With lawmakers back home in their districts for the Congressional recess this week, industry lobbyists are urging those near nuclear power plants to pay them a visit to learn about safety upgrades, Roll Call reported.

The industry hasn't spared much expense in the hunt for goodwill inside the Beltway. The Nuclear Energy Institute, the sector's lead trade group, spent $6.1 million on lobbying over the past three years, including for outside help from former Rep. Robert Walker, a Pennsylvania Republican who chaired the House Science Committee in the mid-1990s.

NEI's members have spent many millions more. Duke Energy (DUK, Fortune 500), for example, shelled out $17.5 million on lobbying over that time period; Exelon (EXC, Fortune 500) spent $12.7 million; and NRG (NRG, Fortune 500) spent $4.2 million, according to figures from the Center for Responsive Politics. The industry has also been a generous source of campaign cash for lawmakers. Exelon alone doled out more than $1.9 million in contributions over the last two election cycles.

And reflecting the industry's sophistication in playing the Washington game, its lobbyists have struck on more creative, if less costly, means of building relationships. As recently as 2006, NEI sponsored the team that House Energy and Commerce Committee staffers assembled to compete in a Congressional summer-softball league...."

http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/21/news/companies/nuclear_energy_lobby.fortune/


The article opens by portraying Rep. Steve Israel as someone who went through the "horrible experience" of "Shoreham".
He is portrayed as having been scarred by the requirement to ensure that there was a route of egress (or exit for the non-military minded) for Long Island residents should Shoreham ever decide to pop its top. What a calamity that such an economic disaster could happen.

But "like many other policymakers over the last decade, Israel's views have evolved". I'm sure that evolutions has nothing to do with the fact that he probably has a rather Traditional outlook that inclines him to place great trust in the nuclear industry; nor with any of the campaign contributions tendered by the institutions above.

Since he is still pimping for the nuclear industry with that story right now, he apparently didn't really grasp the significance to public safety of the news we've all been watching the past 10 days any more than he did the significance of TMI.

[bananas]

1. They must be dumping incredible amounts of money into lobbying and PR right now. nt

[janet118]

2. Online newspapers' comments sections are filled with . . .

nuke defenders. They dismiss other posters as stupid, naive, hippies and tree-huggers. This is similar to the treatment residents who live near nuclear plants are given during NRC re-licensing hearings.

[kristopher]

3. They have a complete network of volunteer bloggers and paid PR on standby

They act under centralized direction and with ongoing behind the scenes coordination.