Throughout his career, Jeff Gorell has repeatedly proven that he puts himself and special interests first, and middle class California families last. So for five days, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is highlighting the reasons why Jeff Gorell is a puppet of special interests and cannot be trusted.
Today’s reason: Jeff Gorell attended junkets at luxurious Maui resorts funded by special interest groups, including Big Oil and Tobacco
“Jeff Gorell’s junkets to Maui resorts are further proof that he takes his orders straight from Big Oil and other special interests,” said Tyrone Gayle of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Take one good look at Jeff Gorell’s career as a lobbyist and politician, and it’s completely clear that the agenda of corporate special interests know they have a reliable ally in him.”
In case you missed it, here are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reasons that Jeff Gorell is a special interest puppet who cannot be trusted.
BACKGROUND:
2012: Gorell Attended Trip to Hawaii with Family that Was Paid for By A Special Interest. In 2012, the Independent Voter Project paid for Gorell’s $2,383 trip to Maui, Hawaii. In 2013, the Cal Newsroom reported, “Gorell has been a regular attendee of the Maui special interest soiree […] In 2012, the Independent Voter Project junket included Conway [and] Gorell….” The Ventura County Star reported that Gorell “was accompanied on the trip by his wife and child, whose expenses were paid out of the assemblyman’s officeholder account, funded by political contributions.” [2012 Statement of Economic Interest, filed 2/13/13; Cal Newsroom, 12/01/13; Ventura County Star, 3/09/13]
Attended Junket at Luxurious Maui Resort Days Before Launching Congressional Campaign. In November 2013, Gorell attended a junket in Maui, Hawaii hosted by the Independent Voter Project just a few days prior to launching his congressional campaign. The event took place between November 17 through November 21 and consisted of two conferences at the luxurious Fairmont Kea Lani hotel, an “all-suite[,] oceanfront resort.” [CalNewsroom.com, 12/01/13; Los Angeles Times, 11/08/13]
Junket to Hawaii Sponsored by Oil and Tobacco. In 2014, Cal Newsroom reported, “In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dan Howle, a Lilly USA executive and Independent Voter Project board member, confirmed that sponsoring companies receive the opportunity to talk about their business. ‘It gives the sponsoring companies an opportunity to talk about what their business is like in California,’ Howle said of the junket’s financial supporters, which has included Chevron, cigarette maker Altria, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, the California Beer and Beverage Distributors, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Assn., Lilly USA, LLC and the state prison guards union, according to the Times.” [Cal Newsroom, 12/01/13]