When West Virginia House of Delegates candidate Lissa Lucas decided to take a stand against Big Oil’s pernicious political influence last week by rattling off the names of state lawmakers receiving massive campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry, she was swiftly and forcefully silenced.
Click Here: brisbane lions guernsey 2019
“Let’s have a government for the people again. Money in politics breaks down public trust in our democracy.”
—Lissa Lucas
Now, her story—first reported by journalist Russell Mokhiber in a piece for Common Dreams on Sunday—has become a viral sensation and a model for those looking to challenge the stranglehold corporate cash has on the American political system.
Watch the video of the incident, which has since garnered over 133,000 views on Facebook:
Lucas’ decision to highlight the vast influence oil and gas money has on West Virginia politics came during a hearing last Friday on a bill that, if passed, would allow fossil fuel companies to drill on properties with multiple owners even if all of the owners don’t consent.
Shortly after she began rattling off the names of lawmakers supporting the bill and their oil and gas patrons, Lucas was told by Republican John Shott that her remarks constituted “personal comments.” When Lucas refused to stop, she was forcibly removed from the hearing by security.
Journalist Ben Norton wrote that Lucas’ removal for the act of reading publicly available campaign finance information is yet another example of “the authoritarian capitalist dystopia we live in.”
“This needs to happen all over America. Expose how much our politicians are for sale for their votes.”
—James Neu Jr.
“Why do we need campaign finance reform? THIS. THIS IS WHY,” added West Virginia state Sen. Richard Ojeda.
In an interview with The Intercept on Monday, Lucas said warnings from Republicans against personal attacks are perfectly “sensible.”
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT