In the weeks before California lawmakers left Sacramento for their summer recess, more than a dozen environmental bills died amid heavy industry opposition in a Legislature overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats.
But there was another common thread: Industries that opposed these bills have a record of financially supporting the Legislature's moderate Democrats through a mix of campaign contributions and donations to the politicians' favored charities.
In the last two election cycles, Chevron spent nearly $10 million on California races, Valero spent $3.9 million, and Marathon Petroleum spent $3.3 million, with a quarter going to Democrats and more to related committees.
"What big money in politics does is block legislation. It maintains the status quo."
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]