Climate deal swing votes among top oil money recipients
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Assembly members considered swing votes on legislation to reduce carbon emissions by charging polluters were among the top recipients of donations from oil companies, an analysis of campaign finance filings shows.
Records show oil companies in the Western States Petroleum Association and other industry groups donated more than $240,000 to Assembly members in the first half of 2017, as lawmakers hotly debated extending California’s cap and trade program.
The oil industry was involved in weeks of closed-door negotiations with Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers, winning concessions and eventually backing the deal as a favourable market-based approach to reducing pollution. Some environmental advocates, meanwhile, argued oil companies won too much.
Of the nine Assembly members who received more than $10,000 from oil interests, six are moderate Democrats or Republicans who were considered swing votes on the deal. All six backed the deal, and it squeaked through the lower chamber by a single vote. In total, oil interests gave to nearly half the chamber’s 80 members, with most receiving less than $5,000.