The fossil fuel industry is adept at abusing campaign finance law to hamper coherent energy policy | Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

The fossil fuel industry had already managed to shape a bill moving rapidly through Congress last summer, gaining provisions to ease its ability to export natural gas. But one key objective remained elusive: a measure limiting the authority of local communities to slow the construction of pipelines because of environmental concerns. Then, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton,…