Oil and Gas

‘We’ll spend more money this time than ever before’

by Jeremy Alford

LMOGA President Chris John on the trade group’s spending plans for fall elections.

Chris John

The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association has always been active in legislative elections. But this fall will be different for its MC-PAC, with big checks coming in and big asks underway.

“We’ll spend more money this time than ever before,” says LMOGA president Chris John.

The former congressman says term limits are one reason; the anti-energy votes taken by some lawmakers in recent years is another.

While the processing tax and a handful of other perennial bills were always enough to gauge the loyalty of lawmakers to industry, John says there are now many more policy measures to track, like proposals on legacy matters and litigation.

Additionally, the recent suits against oil companies by parish governments have led to LMOGA getting involved in local politics.

“We’ve never played on that level before,” John says.