Politics & Elections

Gubernatorial candidate Gorbea defends taking campaign money from fossil fuel lobbyist

“Nellie Gorbea should join over 100 Rhode Island political leaders and thousands of politicians nationwide, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, in pledging to reject fossil fuel money. If she won’t, she has absolutely no credibility on climate.”

Rhode Island News: Gubernatorial candidate Gorbea defends taking campaign money from fossil fuel lobbyist

June 29, 2022, 12:29 pm

By Steve Ahlquist

Candidate for Governor Nellie Gorbea has come under criticism from national climate action group Oil Change United States for accepting funds from a a fundraiser thrown for her benefit from “prominent fossil fuel lobbyist Tonio Burguos in New York.” Tickets for the fundraiser, which was held at Burgos’ lobbying firm, started at $250.

Oil Change United States described Burgos:

Burgos is a prominent Democratic National Committee member and a well-known lobbyist for fossil fuel companies — he has lobbied for heavily fossil-fueled utility National Grid, earned millions lobbying for oil producer Williams Companies, and is currently lobbying for Valero, the world’s largest petroleum refiner. He is also a controversial figure in New England politics, as former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy took money from Burgos in his campaign against U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in violation of his No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and ultimately returned the contributions.

Note that Kennedy lost that election to Markey.

Nellie Gorbea has refused to sign the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, notes Oil Change United States. The No Fossil Fuel Money pledge a national effort signed by thousands of politicians urging candidates to reject contributions from fossil fuel PACs, executives, and lobbyists.

“Anyone claiming the mantle of climate action must reject ties to Big Oil and Gas — it’s really that simple. Fossil fuel companies are wrecking the planet and endangering Rhode Islanders, and lobbyists like Tonio Burgos are profiting from this devastation,” said Oil Change United States Campaigns Director Collin Rees. “Nellie Gorbea should join over 100 Rhode Island political leaders and thousands of politicians nationwide, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, in pledging to reject fossil fuel money. If she won’t, she has absolutely no credibility on climate.”

Gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown, who has signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, criticized his opponent.

“The fossil fuel industry is threatening our planet. We already see the forest fires, floods and extreme heat they’ve caused – and our children will see much, much worse if we don’t act. We are literally in a fight for our lives with the fossil fuel industry,” said Matt Brown. “We need to fight them with everything we’ve got and shut them down – not cozy up to them in exchange for campaign funds. No politician should accept campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry, let alone have one of their top lobbyist’s host a fundraiser at his lobbying firm.

“Secretary Gorbea should return all the money she raised at her fossil fuel fundraiser immediately and pledge not to take any fossil fuel money.”

The Gorbea campaign doubled down on Burgos and defended accepting the campaign money:

“Tonio Burgos is a prominent Democratic donor who has served on the DNC’s Executive Committee,” said Gorbea through her campaign. “He has supported climate champions like Senator Whitehouse, Congressman Cicilline, and Jay Inslee, and has contributed thousands of dollars in support of marriage equality across the country. Nellie strongly advocated for the passage of the Act on Climate and has made it clear that, as governor, combating climate change will be a core priority. She is committed to a just transition to a renewable energy economy and to setting Rhode Island on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050.”

It should be noted that climate “champion” Sheldon Whitehouse has also refused to sign the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and supported the construction of an unneeded fracked gas and diesel oil burning power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island, ignoring the pleas of his constituents to oppose the project.