Exxon Mobil Coughs Up $7.2M Lobbying the US Govt in Half of 2011

In 2Q and 3Q, Exxon Mobil spent a cool $7.2 million combined to lobby the US federal government regarding offshore oil drilling and related issues, according to a newly disclosed report.

The oil and gas giants of Exxon Mobil spent the $7.2M, $3.8 in 2Q and $3.2 in 3Q, to lobby federal officials on legislation for “offshore oil drilling, oil pipelines, hydraulic fracturing, security provisions for chemical facilities, consumer product safety, toxic substance rules, air quality standards, patent reform” according to the Washington Post who dissected the report.

As US regulators have now allowed oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, to re-enter deepwater drilling operations into the Gulf of Mexico, Exxon hasn’t wasted any time or expense trying to get their piece of the pie.  Exxon has raced to influence legislation over 2011 in the midst of a major Gulf of Mexico oil discovery just this year, and continues to try and gain access to more offshore areas.

In 3Q alone, Exxon Mobil lobbied Congress, the Council on Environmental Quality, the US Forest Service, the White House, and the departments of state, interior, and treasury, claims the disclosed report with the House clerk’s office.

Since October, oil prices have jumped around 27%, and the US government expects crude prices to be on the rise during 2012.