Press Release
May 12, 2016
Contact: Sarah Rose, CLCV CEO, 510-844-0232
OAKLAND, May 12, 2016 – An independent expenditure campaign funded by the oil industry has funneled more than $300,000 into an effort to unseat environmental champion Senator Jim Beall from his Senate District 15 legislative seat.
Beall, who has a 97% lifetime CLCV score, has been a consistent leader on environmental and public health issues, including serving as a co-author of Senate Bill 350 last year. That bill included ground-breaking goals to increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, and reduce California’s dependence on oil. SB 350 was the target of a months-long opposition effort by the oil industry until it was weakened by an amendment that removed its oil reduction goals.
Beall has also been a champion for his district, supporting policies to reduce air pollution, improve transportation, and improve public health outcomes for all communities.
This spending in the Senate District 15 contest is just the latest oil industry effort and follows recent expenditures targeting a number of other clean energy and environmental champions.
Statement from Sarah Rose, CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters:
Senator Beall is a strong ally for the environment and for his community. It is disappointing, but not surprising, to see the oil industry has poured money into this and other campaigns to stop candidates who have the public’s and the environment’s best interests at heart. Voters in Senate District 15 who care about their health, their children’s health, and the environment have a real champion in Senator Beall.
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.
