Greens claim GOP is doing industry's bidding in battle over EPA rules

Several liberal groups battling GOP-led plans to block Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations are ramping up their efforts to paint Republicans as the handmaidens of industry.

Their efforts to highlight political giving coincided with Wednesday's Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on legislation to bar EPA from regulating greenhouse gases from power plants, refineries and other facilities.

The group Public Campaign released a report Wednesday that explores political giving by the fossil fuel industry to members of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, which is holding Wednesday's hearing.

"Members of the Energy and Power Subcommittee have received $8.7 million in campaign contributions from oil & gas, coal, and electric utilities industries during their time in Congress," states a summary of the report.

It adds that Republicans on the panel have received considerably more industry contributions that Democrats.

Similarly, the liberal Center for American Progress is highlighting contributions from the conservative Koch brothers to officials that oppose EPA rules, noting that Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), has received $9,000 from Koch Industries since 2008. Whitfield is chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee.