scott rigell

April 14, 2017 - The Trump administration unveiled plans to expand offshore drilling at last week's conference of the National Ocean Industries Association. Launched by Exxon in the 1970s to represent the offshore drilling industry, NOIA has been investing in politicians from Southeastern states where its members would like to do business.

April 27, 2016 - While offshore drilling in the Atlantic is canceled for now, plans are still underway to conduct seismic blasting for oil and gas reserves. As scientists, environmentalists, local communities and some elected leaders press to block the tests, the industry has been contributing unprecedented amounts of money to influence key federal lawmakers.

February 25, 2016 - This week a bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal on the Alabama protest marchers who helped win passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. But there's little bipartisan unity on restoring provisions of the law gutted by the Supreme Court, and some marchers are speaking out about it.

January 8, 2013 - Federal lawmakers trumpeted last week's passage of the Drywall Safety Act of 2012. But thanks to the efforts of U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on behalf of the industry lobby, the bill doesn't actually set enforceable standards to prevent contaminated drywall from ending up in people's homes.