FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2021
Contact:
Brandon Dawson, brandon.dawson@sierraclub.org (830) 309-1092
Michael Blenner, michael.blenner@sierraclub.org (347) 439-2158
November Update to Tracking the Dirty Dollars Project Reveals 17 Assembly Members Have Now Received Over $10,000 From Polluters
SACRAMENTO— Sierra Club California has released the November Update to its Tracking the Dirty Dollars Project. This update found that 17 Assemblymembers have now received more than $10,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry and its allies, an increase of 12 legislators from the August report update. You can read the full overview for this report here.
Since the start of our tracking for the Dirty Dollars report, 81 legislators have accepted dirty dollars. That leaves only 39 state legislators between both houses with campaign bank accounts that are untainted by the oil and gas industries.
“While we had hoped legislators were wising up about accepting campaign contributions from the fossil-fuel lobbies, it’s clear that these interests are set on having an influence in the legislature,” said Brandon Dawson, director of Sierra Club California. “Sierra Club California will continue to hold these interests and the legislators they fund accountable for their failure to meet the urgency of the climate crisis. This is even more necessary with 2022 being an election year.”
Since the start of our tracking for the Dirty Dollars report, 81 legislators have accepted dirty dollars. The November Update comes on the heels of Sierra Club California’s release of its annual report card in October, in which only 17 assembly members and 5 senators received a perfect score this year.
Assemblymember Chad Mayes (I-42) leads all legislators with a staggering total of $22,600 dirty donations, accepted in the first three quarters of 2021. Mr. Mayes left the Republican Party in 2019 to become an Independent, although it’s clear he’s not independent from the oil and gas industry’s influence. Mayes also received a dismal 13% score on Sierra Club California’s annual report card.
Eight additional Assemblymembers have now received more than $15,000 dirty dollars. The Assembly Minority Leader, Republican Marie Waldron, leads this tier with $19,700 fossil-fueled contributions. Assemblymembers Ramos and Cooper are close behind with totals of $19,500 and $19,150 respectively. Republican Heath Flora is tied with Democrat Rudy Salas Jr. with $18,800 each. Democrats Freddie Rodriguez and Tom Daly have both received $17,200. Trailing this sad group is Republican Assemblymember Thurston Smith, who has received $15,900 dirty dollars.
Sierra Club California launched the Tracking the Dirty Dollars Project in November 2020 to shed light on oil and gas contributions to legislators and other state-level elected officials. The project sorts through existing public databases to identify who receives contributions from oil and gas companies and their allies through direct campaign contributions, independent expenditure campaigns, and gifts. The project then presents the information in a clear format that makes it much easier for the general public and environmental activists to see what their elected leaders have received.
A cover report discussing the November installment and the data sheets comprising the three installments is available on Sierra Club California’s website. More information about the project is included in a November 2020 blog e-mailed to Sierra Club members and supporters around the state.
Sierra Club California is the legislative and regulatory arm of Sierra Club’s 13 local chapters in California, representing nearly half a million members and supporters.