by Katy Grimes, E&E Legal Senior Media Fellow and California Globe Editor
As Appearing in the California Globe
The California Governor and Democrats aren’t working on behalf of Californians
California Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill in February to hold “Big Oil” responsible for natural disasters in California. Senator Wiener is blaming the oil and gas industry for natural disasters – disasters that should have been mitigated – at least partially – by the State of California.
Senate Bill 222 would allow the state FAIR Plan, insurance companies, and individuals to sue oil and gas companies for wildfire damages. Sen. Wiener proclaimed that “The fossil fuel industry is fueling climate change,” and then announcedSenate Bill 222 to force the oil and gas industry to pay for all disasters in the state – and in doing so, will allow insurance companies and victims of fires, floods, rain and sleet, wind events, mudslides, and earthquakes to sue fossil fuel companies for damages, the Globe reported in January.
SB 222 bill analysis says that “this bill is sponsored by the Center for Climate Integrity, California Environmental Voters, and Extreme Weather Survivors. It is supported by a number of environmental and consumer advocacy groups, including Consumer Watchdog and Sierra Club California. It is opposed by a wide variety of business associations, labor groups, and oil and gas representatives, including the Western States Petroleum Association and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.
“Sponsoring Wiener’s bill is the Rockefeller-backed Center for Climate Integrity, which brags that they are “Exposing Big Oil’s Lies & Demanding Accountability.” The Center for Climate Integrity is a Washington DC non-profit. …Wondering how much funding they have received from USAID…
