Wash. Times Doesn't Identify Author Of Pro-Industry Op-Ed As Energy Lobbyist
Published
In a recent Washington Times op-ed, former Rep. J.C. Watts criticized the Obama administration for its rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline and claimed that “the EPA - spurred on by its radical environmental allies - is pushing for more and more job-killing regulations on industries.” The Times did not disclose that Watts is a lobbyist for oil and gas companies.
Watts lobbies for The Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (DEPA), a coalition of oil and gas producers. According to records filed with Congress' lobbying disclosure database, DEPA paid JC Watts Companies $30,000 for lobbying on “energy production” in the fourth quarter of 2011, the most recent period available.
Additionally, the website of the JC Watts Companies lists LLOG Exploration Company and Deep Gulf Energy as its “past and current clients.” “LLOG/Deep Gulf Energy” paid JC Watts Companies $30,000 in the fourth quarter of 2011 for lobbying on “H.R. 4213 and other energy tax extenders legislation.”
Watts authored a March 14 DEPA report which criticized Obama for “eliminating critical tax incentives for domestic production, blocking Keystone, stalling permits in the Gulf, limiting access to federal lands and using the EPA to harass domestic producers and further drive up the cost of exploration and production.” Watts added that “DEPA will need to continue holding the line against an Administration bent upon choking off domestic production.” In reality, U.S. oil production is at an 8-year high.
In his Times op-ed, Watts repeated flawed claims about the Keystone XL pipeline. Watts wrote that the pipeline “would create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.” However, analyses from the State Department and Cornell University estimate the number of construction jobs created by the pipeline would be far fewer. Cornell also found that “based on the figures provided by TransCanada for the Canadian section of the pipeline, the new permanent US pipeline jobs in the US number as few as 50.”
Watts also wrote that the pipeline would “significantly reduce our dependence on the Middle East and elsewhere for oil.” A Department of Energy analysis found that the Keystone XL pipeline would not significantly alter the sources of U.S. oil imports.
The Weekly Standard and Wall Street Journal similarly offered inadequate disclosure when recently publishing op-eds on Keystone XL and energy regulation.
A request for comment to Washington Times editors was not returned.
UPDATE: After the this post was published, The Washington Times added the following note to Watts' column online:
(Note: When originally published, this article should have disclosed that former Rep. J.C. Watts has represented energy interests as a lobbyist as noted on his corporate web site.)