Green campaigners see GOP ties to big oil

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WASHINGTON, March 7 (UPI) -- Environmental campaigners said a political action committee tied to House Speaker John Boehner received potentially illegal financial support from Chevron.

Anti-oil sands group Oil Change International said it joined Friends of Earth, Greenpeace and Public Citizen in filing a complaint with the U.S. Federal Election Commission against Chevron. They argued a $2.5 million contribution from Chevron to the Congressional Leadership Fund violated anti-corruption rules.

They allege the super PAC is tied to Boehner, R-Ohio. The fund backed political ads attacking Democrats.

Steve Kretzmann, executive director of Oil Change International, said the donation possibly violated laws that prohibit companies like Chevron that have contracts with the U.S. government from making financial contributions to political parties or campaigns.

"That money buys them government contracts and House leadership that reliably backs big oil's agenda including preserving subsidies and gutting regulations," he said in a statement.

There was no comment from Chevron or Boehner.