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The four have also contributed more than $384,000 to presidential and congressional races in Alaska and other states since 1997, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Since Gov. Frank Murkowski and the state's three largest oil producers began negotiations to build a $25 billion natural gas pipeline to Canada about two years ago, the four executives have bumped up the giving.

The four have spent $231,273 on state candidates in 2004 and through this year's primary elections.

This year alone, the executives have spent $84,800 on individual legislative races, all to Republican incumbents, challengers or the state's Republican Party.

Aside from cash contributions, Senate President Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage, has received $252,000 since 2001 for consulting work from the company, according to disclosure statements filed with the Alaska Public Offices Committee. Little is known about what Stevens did for that money, as he is not required to report details of the work.

One of the 20 warrants executed in raids last week across Alaska gave federal agents the authority to seize any documents, letters, records, electronic mail or any other form of communication with VECO, Allen, Smith, Leathard and Chan. The warrant calls for seizing proof of payments, contracts, employment, gifts or fundraisers by the executives to the legislators.

The warrant specifically looks for "any and all documents concerning, reflecting or relating to proposed legislation in the state of Alaska involving either the creation of a natural gas pipeline or the petroleum production tax."

The Legislature passed the petroleum production tax last month, a major rewrite of the state's oil tax laws that will base production taxes on the net profits of each oil company's Alaska operations.

Offices raided in Juneau, Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough included those of Stevens; Sen. John Cowdery, R-Anchorage; Rep. Pete Kott, R-Eagle River; Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla; Rep Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau; and Sen. Donald Olson, D-Nome.

Little is known about the purpose of the investigation. But the raids, which may be the first in state history, have soured plans for a special session Murkowski wanted to call for Sept. 19 to again consider his pipeline deal with BP, ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil Corp.

Murkowski spokesman John Manly said the governor's staff is still discussing the possibilities for a session with legislators.

Former Gov. Tony Knowles, who is the Democratic nominee again this year, is one of the few Democrats who has received contributions from VECO, and only when he was running for re-election in 1998. Knowles received $10,975 from company executives that year, according to his campaign. His running mate, House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, received $8,000 from VECO officials in 2000. Neither plans to return the money from those past campaigns, spokeswoman Patty Ginsburg said.

Knowles made the FBI investigation of VECO a focus of a five-point ethics plan he described Tuesday.

"I think the figures show that they were a dominant influence in numerous elections of legislators and generously gave to statewide elected officials," Knowles said of VECO.