Oil Money Out, People Power In

Governor Jerry Brown and California State Legislators

Stop taking money from the oil industry and prioritize public health over industry profits!

In the last 10 years, the oil industry has spent over $266 Million influencing California legislators and policy. This spending has allowed them to prevent the passing of meaningful legislation and/or block policies that would limit their ability to drill and pollute.

After the state of California performed independent studies such as the California Council on Science and Technology Report (CCST), which made strong recommendations to protect public health from the toxicity of oil operations, our legislators instead protected the oil industry and left the public vulnerable to toxic exposure.

We need champions looking out for our communities, not for the profits of the oil industry. Until the flow of money into our democracy and the control of lobbyists stops or is seriously curtailed, nothing is going to change.

Governor Brown and California’s elected officials: stop taking money from the oil industry and prioritize public health and well being over oil industry profits.


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To: Governor Jerry Brown and California State Legislators
From: [Your Name]

Stop taking money from the oil industry and prioritize public health over industry profits!

Petition Background: In the past year, the oil industry spent an historic 36.1 million dollars to lobby California lawmakers. This record-breaking number doesn't even include what was spent by the oil industry in elections or gifts to elected officials. Over the past 6 years, the industry has spent $122 million in lobbying, more than any other interest group. This spending spree has paid huge dividends for these companies, allowing them to quash or neuter any meaningful legislation that might significantly curb their power to drill and pollute. This is particularly significant as during this time, the state of California performed independent studies which had notable findings on the toxicity of oil operations and made strong recommendations to protect public health, none of which have been implemented or addressed, leaving the general public vulnerable to contamination and toxic exposure.

Our governor and other elected officials should act as guardians of the public trust. The lack of action by Governor Brown and state legislators to protect the public from dangerous industry practices is unacceptable.

Put simply, you can’t allow industry money or lobbyists to determine policy, and be a climate or environmental champion at the same time - let alone look out for public health and the people. We need champions looking out for our communities, not for the profits of the oil industry. Until the flow of money into our democracy and the control of lobbyists stops or is seriously curtailed, nothing is going to change.

Governor Brown and California’s other elected officials need to make their primary allegiance clear: is it to the oil industry or to the health and safety of their constituents? The days of having it both ways have to come to an end.