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February 13, 2018

West Virginia Woman Dragged from Capitol for Calling Out Campaign Donors
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In West Virginia, lawmakers are under fire for ordering the removal of a
citizen from the state Capitol, after she called out the names of state
politicians who've accepted campaign contributions from the oil and gas
industry. Lissa Lucas was speaking Friday during a public comment
session at the West Virginia House Judiciary Committee.

Lissa Lucas: "The people who are going to be speaking in favor of this
bill are all going to be paid by the industry, and the people who are
going to be voting on this bill are also often paid by the industry. For
example-and I have to keep it short, simply because the public only gets
a minute 45, while lobbyists can throw a gala at the Marriott, with
whisky and wine, and talk for hours to the delegates. So, to keep it
short, on the Judiciary Committee, Charlotte Lane, about $10,000 from
gas and oil interests, including AEP, Marathon, First Energy, Dominion,
EQT-and I could go on."

As Lucas listed the names of other lawmakers who've received campaign
contributions from the oil and gas industry, Republican committee chair
John Shott had her microphone cut and ordered her to be physically
removed.


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