Nearly 400 state and local elected officials from 30 states, the District of Columbia and more 500 sets They urge Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to fight any effort during the lame-duck session to protect fossil fuel companies from climate accountability laws and lawsuits.
“We urge you to protect our right to hold Big Oil accountable and reject any proposal that would shield fossil fuel companies from legal and legislative efforts by communities across the country to make polluters pay for the damage they cause to their climate and pollution,” the officials said in a statement. letter Yesterday it was sent to the offices of Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The messages were delivered as part of the “Patriot”No immunity for major oil companies“Campaign as Republicans in the House and Senate push bills that would give fossil fuel companies blanket immunity from laws and lawsuits that seek to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis. House bill It failed to get out of the House Judiciary Committee in September.
ten Governors of the United States, 21 public prosecutors and local officialsand National Association of Counties They also expressed their opposition. In a statement issued by ranking member Jamie Raskin (Democrat from Maryland), Democrats in the House Judiciary pledged to “defeat” the measures announced by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and a member of the Democratic Party. An increasing number of Democrats openly opposed.
Ella Shorenstein, political director of the Center for Climate Safety, issued the following statement:
“Americans have just made clear that they want accountability and an end to corruption – not corporate impunity. This is a critical moment for leaders in Congress and statehouses to stand up and fight against the fossil fuel industry’s efforts to put themselves above the law.”
As the window to immunize Big Oil at the federal level has narrowed, the fossil fuel industry and its allies have been pressing state legislatures to protect oil and gas companies from accountability. American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Pays typical bills It would deny people their right to file lawsuits against big oil companies, and prevent cities and counties from passing laws aimed at making big oil companies pay their fair share of the rising costs of climate change. Similar bills have been passed Utah, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennesseeand yeah Earlier this year. Investigation by ProPublica It found that these efforts have the support of right-wing groups linked to prominent conservative activist Leonard Liu.
A The latest poll found that 75% of likely voters67% of Republicans oppose granting oil and gas companies legal immunity from climate damage.
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