Peter was a friend, colleague and politically courageous champion of the downtrodden and mistreated of the entire Western Hemisphere. Everyone who met Peter, talked to Peter, worked with Peter, or argued with Peter, will miss the passing of a great American.

In 2002, 2003 and 2006, Camejo ran for governor of California on a platform of abortion rights, the legalization and taxation of marijuana, universal health care, and a moratorium on the death penalty. In 1976, he was the Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate. In 2004, Camejo was Ralph Nader’s pick for vice president. I have voted for Camejo on several occasions.

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Thus far in 2008, oil and gas companies have spent $55,339,015 million on lobbying in an effort to convince lawmakers to vote in the industry’s favor and against renewables.  Not surprisingly, the top spender is Exxon-Mobil.  At the current rate of spending, the industry is set to break last year’s record of $83 million. Big Oil defends this increased spending in response to more energy bills being on the “menu” and denies it is responsible for the failure of these bills; however, lobbying dollars speak for themselves. According to CNN:

The oil industry may have not gotten its drilling wish list just yet, but so far they have been able to avoid higher taxes.

Meanwhile, the renewable energy folks haven’t seen a big increase in funding.

Looking at the dollars spent lobbying Congress, that may not be surprising. The renewable industry and their allies in the environmental movement have spent a combined $19 million lobbying Congress this year - half what the oil industry has spent.

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