1. A CHALLENGE TO SENATOR VITTER
Dear Senator Vitter:
Among the reasons I stepped down from Farallon Capital Management last year were that I
wanted to spend my time working to create a clean energy economy for our children and that I
no longer felt comfortable being at a firm that was invested in every single sector of the global
economy, including tar sands and oil. When I left Farallon, I directed that my portfolio be
divested and placed in a fund that does not invest in either tar sands or coal, including Farallon’s
investment in Kinder Morgan.
Even though I signed the Giving Pledge in 2010 to give away the majority of my assets to
philanthropic and community causes, I don’t want your baseless insinuations to confuse anyone
about my motivations. Therefore, I pledge to donate 100% of any personal profits from Kinder
Morgan investments, which I expect to be sold by year-end and to generate between $1mm to
$2mm in profits, to assist the victims devastated by the wildfires currently scorching the
American West.
Today I challenge you to demonstrate that your support of the fossil fuel industry, including your
willingness to be a go-to “yes” man for tar sands projects like Keystone, is in no way connected
to the more than one-million dollars in campaign money that you have raised from the fossil fuel
industry. I challenge you to divest yourself of any tainted financial benefits by contributing the
$1,135,792.00 your campaigns for federal office have received from the fossil fuel industry to a
charitable community cause of your choice in Louisiana. I suggest supporting the victims of the
BP oil spill, the continuing efforts to support the state’s recovery from the extreme weather of
Hurricane Katrina, or those hard working Louisiana citizens economically impacted by the
Mississippi River drought last year.
Let us both advocate for our beliefs free of any charge that we are doing so for financial gain.
I oppose the Keystone Pipeline for one reason and only one reason: while it may be in the best
financial interest of a foreign oil company, it is not in the best interest of the American people.
The Keystone pipeline will hurt the U.S. economy - and the good people of Louisiana - by
driving up gas prices. A recent filing by TransCanada, the foreign oil company pushing the
pipeline, made clear that the pipeline would allow the company to manipulate the oil supply in
the U.S. and drive up gas prices while making them billions. Senator Vitter, if you support
Keystone, does that mean you want higher gas prices for Louisiana drivers?
The Keystone pipeline will send cheap energy to our foreign competitors in Asia such as China.
In fact, TransCanada refuses to commit to keeping the oil in the U.S. Senator Vitter, does
supporting Keystone mean you support those countries that are seeking to take jobs away from
the U.S.?
The Keystone Project will carry some of the dirtiest oil on the planet, causing the release of
dangerous toxins that damage the health of children. British Columbia recently stated that it

2. would not allow TransCanada's tar sands to be transported through its territory. Why should the
U.S. transport this dirtiest of oil across our territory when even the Canadian province of British
Columbia refuses to allow it? Senator Vitter, does supporting Keystone mean you support
putting toxins into the air that are bad for the health of children?
I look forward to hearing whether you will accept my challenge to donate your fossil campaign
contributions for the public good and stand up for what’s right for the United States and for your
home state of Louisiana.
Tom Steyer