Groups Explore Wolf’s Ties to Fracking Industry in New Report

Following Inauguration Day Rally, Groups Release Memo Finding Wolf Took $1.5 Million From Fracking Industry in 2014

Philadelphia, PA – A new memo released today by Berks Gas Truth and Food & Water Watch reveals Governor Tom Wolf accepted at least $1.5 million in campaign contributions from donors associated with the oil and gas industry in 2014. Focusing on select contributions located in the campaign finance reports’ Section 1 Parts C and D received over the course of 2014, the memo finds significant contributions from the oil and gas industry, companies affiliated with the industry, or individuals associated with those firms.

The memo’s arrival follows Tuesday’s rally at Governor Wolf’s inauguration. Berks Gas Truth and Food & Water Watch joined with organizations from around Pennsylvania, as well as award-winning director Josh Fox, to call on Wolf to prioritize stopping fracking in Pennsylvania. Chants from the rally of over 250 could be heard from inside the inauguration venue

“Clearly, Governor Wolf has pledged allegiance to the oil & gas industry just as Tom Corbett and Wolf’s mentor, Ed Rendell, did,” said Karen Feridun, Founder of Berks Gas Truth. “When we issued an initial report on contributions he took from donors with ties to the industry during the primary, we called on Wolf to return all of those contributions. He ignored our demand, just as he continues to ignore the science on fracking.”

“Governor Wolf has made clear his intention to preserve the frack-friendly policies of his predecessor, Tom Corbett,” said Sam Bernhardt, Senior Pennsylvania Organizer for Food & Water Watch. “Following the money shows us that these policies are informed not by a desire to follow the science or to protect Pennsylvanians, but are instead informed by an aversion to upsetting a powerful fracking industry.”

View the memo online here:

http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/doc/Wolf_Fracking_Campaign_Contributions.pdf

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