Chevron donates to lawmakers against China bid
Politicians deny link to stance on oil firm's Unocal offer
David R. Baker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Chevron Corp. has given campaign contributions to politicians trying to block the company's Chinese rival in the bidding war for Unocal Corp., with some of the money flowing in the last month.
Chevron, a prolific donor in Washington, has funded some of the lawmakers who have been most critical of China National Offshore Oil Corp., which initiated an $18.5 billion takeover bid for Unocal on June 22.
-- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has received about $30,800 from Chevron since 1989, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Feinstein on Friday called for the secretaries of defense, energy and homeland security to review any deal between CNOOC and Unocal.
-- Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, has received about $21,500 from the company over the years and accepted a $2,000 contribution on June 29, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission. Pombo, who chairs the House Resources Committee, has called China National's bid a threat to U.S. security.
The lawmakers say there is no link between Chevron's contributions and their stance on CNOOC. They say they are troubled by the possibility that a firm 70 percent owned by a communist government could buy Unocal, adding that Chevron hasn't asked for any special treatment in the matter.
"Neither the chairman nor his staff has asked for or received any help or guidance from Chevron," said Pombo spokesman Brian Kennedy.
The San Ramon company says its campaign funding has nothing to do with its pursuit of Unocal. Although some politicians critical of China National received contributions after the bidding war began, Chevron had planned its 2005 political donations two months earlier, in April, spokesman Don Campbell said.
"The company does not tie political contributions to specific actions," he said. "It sets up a plan early in the year for contributions. We do not make them on an ad-hoc basis."
Campaign finance experts also caution not to assume a link. Large corporations typically give to many candidates on both sides of the aisle.
"A company like Chevron hopes that years of giving pay off in a situation like this," said Steven Weiss, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. But "campaign contributions are far from a guarantee that politicians will agree with you."
Chevron gave just under $499,000 to individual candidates in the 2004 election cycle and $1.3 million in 2002, according to data compiled by the center. Most of the money has gone to Republicans -- President Bush has received $44,900, more than any other candidate.
But Democrats, too, have benefited. Only eight other politicians, for example, have received more than Feinstein.
As a foreign firm, China National is barred from making campaign contributions.
Four lawmakers who have criticized China National's bid received money from Chevron after the Chinese firm announced its offer for Unocal, according to a company filing with the Federal Election Commission.
All four received donations on June 29. Pombo got $2,000. The rest -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. James Inhofe, R- Okla. -- each received $1,000. All had received contributions from Chevron in the past.
Earlier this month, Conrad questioned whether CNOOC's bid violated China's commitments to the World Trade Organization. A spokesman Friday said Conrad has long warned about the undue influence of foreign central banks on the American economy.
"When he talks about the trade deficit, he holds up a chart of the countries we owe the most money to," said spokesman Chris Thorne, noting that China occupies a large portion of the chart. "His position on Unocal is consistent with things he's been saying for years."
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