To: Candidates for public office

Take the Pledge: Oil Money Out

We, the undersigned, are calling on candidates for public office to take the pledge. The pledge is:

"I pledge to not take contributions from the oil, gas, and coal industry and instead prioritize the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits."

Taking the pledge means that a candidate’s campaign will adopt a policy to not knowingly accept any contributions over $200 from the PACs or executives of fossil fuel companies — companies whose primary business is the extraction, processing, distribution, or sale of oil, gas, or coal.

Why is this important?

Petition Background

Starting this petition because the fossil fuel industry cannot be trusted. They have a history of buying influence and candidate loyalty.

The fossil fuel industry has a reputation for investing money in candidates who will return the favor from a position of power as Lawmakers, Chief Executives and Financial Officers.

We cannot trust a candidate that takes money from an industry that is a corruption of all of our inherent and intrinsic values that are grounded in community and family--an industry that has no regard for clean air and water or a governing body we can trust.

Taking the pledge means that a candidate’s campaign will adopt a policy to not knowingly accept any direct contributions from companies associated with PACs, trade associations or executives whose primary business is the extraction, processing, distribution, or sale of oil, gas, or coal.

The Western States Petroleum Association is a “non-profit trade association” that represents companies that account for the bulk of petroleum exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing in the five western states of California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada.

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) is the largest and most powerful corporate lobbying group in the West and California.

The Western States Petroleum Association led the oil industry lobbying expenses with $49,491,104 followed by Chevron with $24,035,901 and Phillips 66 with $4,821,144.

WSPA’s membership includes a who’s who oil, energy and pipeline corporations including Aera Energy LLC, Chevron, Californian Resources Corporation (formerly Occidental Petroleum), ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Noble Energy, Inc., Phillips 66, Plains All American, Inc. Shell Oil Products US, Tesoro Refining and Marketing and Valero.

I would have a great deal of confidence and trust in any candidate that can sign this pledge.