"When San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer speaks, Sacramento listens.

In fact, outgoing state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg recessed the body for 90 minutes in the middle of a busy floor session Thursday so Democrats could meet privately across the street with the environmental activist and former hedge fund titan to talk about his pet cause, climate change.

Steyer says he'll pour $1 million into legislative races in California this year on behalf of candidates who support environmental causes."

Phillip Matier And Andrew Ross report for the San Francisco Chronicle August 31, 2014. [2]