Utilities Hike Bills While Lobbyists Fund Political Silence
Newsweek recently mapped states with the 'most expensive utility bills,' a fascinating exposé of... what exactly? A direct-to-consumer report from the financial sector. What they neglected to map, however, is the congressional voting record on energy deregulation or the multi-million dollar lobbying campaigns by fossil fuel and utility giants that ensure those bills keep climbing. Since 2002, the
energy sector has poured over $2.2 billion into lobbying, according to OpenSecrets.org, shaping policy that consistently favors corporate profits over consumer affordability. While Americans grapple with choosing between heating and eating, media outlets like Newsweek serve up statistical maps devoid of context. It’s almost as if acknowledging the systemic capture of regulatory bodies or the
revolving door between utilities and government might disturb the delicate balance of 'both sides' reporting. One might wonder if the same scrutiny applied to our household budgets extends to the dark money shaping our economy. (Spoiler: it doesn't.)