Pombo backs offshore drilling bill: House to take up legislation Thursday; environmentalists plan protests over donations from energy industry.

Byline: Lisa Vorderbrueggen

Jun. 28--Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, defended a bill Tuesday that would increase domestic offshore oil and gas drilling, and foes planned protests today over the lawmaker's campaign contributions from the energy industry. The so-called Defenders of Wildlife planned rallies at gas stations in Pleasanton and Stockton. At the same time, the liberal Moveon.org planned 300 similar protests across the country to highlight what it has tallied as the energy industry's $190 million in campaign contributions since 1990. Protesters are scheduled to appear at Hopyard Road and Owens Drive in Pleasanton at 11:30 a.m. and at Main Street and Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek at 2 p.m. "I want to point out to people driving by that Congressman Pombo may not be the best …