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Writer's pictureAlex Kawa

League of Conservation Voters Endorses Joe Biden Despite Oil and Gas Industry Ties


(Source: League of Conservation Voters/Twitter)


On Monday, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), a prominent environmental advocacy group, officially endorsed former Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president. "The only way we can save our planet is to elect strong leaders who will advance just & equitable solutions to the climate crisis," LCV said in a tweet. "That’s why LCVAF [League of Conservation Voters Action Fund] is proud to endorse [Joe Biden] for President and work together to protect our families' health and future."

While there is no doubt that Biden is far more progressive than President Trump on the issue of climate change and the environment, that is not exactly a tall mountain to climb. And calling the former a "strong leader" to lead the nation against the impending climate crisis is a bold statement, and, given who Biden had surrounded himself with on the campaign trail, as well as his donors, a somewhat questionable one.


Biden's campaign co-chairs include Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. All four have each taken campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry throughout their respective careers in elected office. Blunt Rochester, throughout her two most recent campaigns for House (no data is available for her first campaign in 2016), has taken $12,060 from the industry, while Richmond has taken $291,050 throughout his. Whitmer has taken $16,956 throughout her career, and Garcetti took $7,850 during his 2013 mayoral run (no data is available for his 2017 re-election campaign). Additionally, below is a list of how much money Biden has taken from lobbying firms representing the oil and gas industry, as well as lobbying firms of which those representing the industry are affiliates.


DLA Piper: $45,636

Perkins Coie: $30,154

Hogan Lovells: $23,042

Ernst & Young: $18,559

Alston & Bird: $13,549

Dentons: $7,048

K&L Gates: $6,994

DCI Group: $3,100

BGR Group: $550

Total: $465,990


Given the money Biden and his campaign's co-chairs have taken from the oil and gas industry, and those representing it, it seems unlikely that he would be the "strong leader" LCV claims America needs to combat the climate crisis. Again, there is no doubt to anyone on the left that Biden is better on this issue than Trump, but given who he has taken donations from and who he has surrounded himself with on his campaign, his actions regarding this issue would probably only go so far.

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