CONTACT: Sarah Hersh-Walker, sarah@fcpcommunications.com, 510-759-2921
SACRAMENTO, CA –
California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statement today in response to the California Democratic Party announcing that they will no longer accept donations from the oil, gas, and coal industries.
Statement from Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, California Environmental Voters:
“This is a powerful message from the institution and activists that represent California’s democratic voters and have elected the majority of our state and federal policymakers.
It is not a coincidence that this is happening after three years of the state legislature failing to move significant climate action and our federal leaders struggling to pass critical climate investments.
Follow the money. Corporate polluters’ political influence has already done irreparable damage to our public health and economy, and it could cost us our future. This action from the California Democratic Party sends a clear signal to democratic elected officials: we expect you to put our collective good above corporate interests.
We are at the beginning of a new legislative session, and we have a historic opportunity to make a powerful down payment on solving the climate crisis with the proposed state budget. We will all be watching to see how our elected officials respond to this call to action from the California Democratic Party.”
Background Information:
Last year, California Environmental Voters launched an accountability campaign calling for Democratic leaders in the State Senate to stop delaying climate action. The campaign shined a light on how frequently climate bills die in the State Senate; this is the direct result of millions of dollars spent by corporate polluters to influence the legislature. The oil industry spent $4.3 million lobbying Sacramento in the first few months of 2021 alone.
California Environmental Voters annually releases their Environmental Scorecard, which rates the actions of the California State Legislature and the Governor on their environmental actions each legislative year. Their analysis found that, in 2020, 70% of California legislators and 60% of Democratic legislators accepted contributions directly from the oil industry or major oil industry Political Action Committees (PACs).
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ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.