Legislature passes bill to expand oil drilling in Kern Co. as Big Oil spends millions by Dan BacherJamie Court, Executive Director of Consumer Watchdog, strongly disagreed with Newsom’s assessment of the climate package. Lawmakers went behind closed doors and gutted our environmental and health protections to benefit Big Oil. The advocates talked to legislators and passersby, urging the Legislature to vote no on the oil drilling expansion bill. “Big Oil is feeding into the hysteria about high gas prices in California with the news that two oil refineries are closing. Last year the Western States Petroleum Association placed first in the Big Oil lobbying spending spree with $17.4 million, while Chevron came in second with $14.2 million.