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Press Releases

NEW ADS: Climate Groups Call out Florida Republicans for Taking Big Oil Money and Blocking Clean Energy Plan to Lower Costs for Families

Apr 7, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Climate Power and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) announced new ads calling out Florida Representatives Maria Salazar (FL-27) and Carlos Giménez (FL-26) who took campaign contributions from Big Oil companies while voting against clean energy legislation. 

The Florida ads come alongside a series of ads in Republican-represented districts in Southern California that are on the front lines of the climate crisis, as well as ads running nationally and on D.C. cable that feature House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise who were the top two recipients of oil and gas money in the House last cycle.

“It is the height of hypocrisy for a member of Congress who represents a district that’s been hammered by deadly climate-fueled wildfires or tropical storms to take Big Oil’s money and vote against clean energy investments,” said Pete Maysmith, LCV SVP of Campaigns. “It’s time for Big Oil’s allies in Congress to feel the heat for amassing campaign contributions from price gouging oil and gas executives.”

“Voters are angry at politicians protecting the profits of Big Oil CEOs while they struggle to fill their gas tanks,” said Lori Lodes, Climate Power Executive Director. “Big Oil-backed Republicans in power have spread disinformation about climate change and blocked plans to transition to a clean energy economy. We can make the U.S. truly energy independent by speeding up the production of clean renewable energy – like wind and solar – that will lower prices and reduce our dependence on oil.”

Watch Higher Profits, Carlos Giménez ad here – 

As Vladimir Putin wages war,

Oil companies are making billions

Price gouging us at the pump,

And Carlos Giménez is helping them do it.

He took big money from Big Oil

And opposed a clean energy plan

That will lower costs for families.

He’s leaving us dependent on big oil

And at the mercy of foreign dictators.

Tell Carlos Giménez, blocking

American-made clean energy

Just means higher profits for oil companies

And higher gas prices for us.

Maria Salazar’s ad here.

Voters in Maria Salazar and Carlos Giménez’s districts have faced rising sea levels and devastating tropical storms fueled by climate change, underscoring the consequences when lawmakers seek to curry favor and contributions from Big Oil instead of taking climate action.

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This week, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing to hold oil company executives accountable for price gouging and their record setting profits while Americans pay higher prices at the pump. The League of Conservation Voters also built an art installation on the National Mall that calls attention to Big Oil’s price-gouging. 

Over 80% of oil and gas donations went to Republican congressional candidates over the past 30 years – totaling over $500 million in campaign donations for the GOP. In the last decade alone, Big Oil has spent over a billion dollars lobbying to weaken environmental protections and stop the production of clean energy. Just last year, as families were struggling because of inflation, House Republicans voted to block a clean energy plan that would have lowered families’ energy costs. 

In a recent survey conducted by Hart Research, 76% of voters expressed little or no confidence in politicians who rely on fossil fuel companies for campaign contributions, writing that such politicians occupy “the hottest place in gas price hell.” Instead of working to meaningfully aid families struggling with higher gas prices, Big Oil and their enablers in Congress have focused on blaming nonexistent Biden policies, even though a recent Dallas Fed survey found that oil executives themselves blame the lack of production increases on a desire to reward investors, not government policy.