January, 19 2010, 09:48am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Nick Berning, 202-222-0748
Kelly Trout, 202-222-0722
New Radio Ad Holds Murkowski Accountable for Doing Bidding of Special Interests in Push to Roll Back Clean Air Act
Ad accuses senator of turning back on Alaska’s economy by thwarting climate solutions
WASHINGTON
Friends of the Earth Action began airing radio ads in Alaska and North
Dakota today taking U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
and Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) to task for doing the bidding of
corporate lobbyists by attempting to roll back the Clean Air Act.
"Senator Murkowski took lobbyists' money, then
invited them to help her write legislation that will hurt her constituents.
It's classic pay-to-play politics, and it's wrong," said
Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth Action.
"Climate change threatens Alaska's economy, but instead of
standing up for her state, Senator Murkowski is doing what the lobbyists want
and trying to eliminate the strongest existing tool that could help solve the
problem," Pica said.
"North Dakotans--especially
the state's farmers--are also at risk of climate change impacts,
including more and worse droughts," Pica said. "Congressman Pomeroy
should be working to protect his constituents by solving the problem, but
instead, he's standing in the way. That's unacceptable."
Last week, the Washington
Postreported
that two lobbyists helped Murkowski draft a legislative proposal that would
prevent the Clean Air Act from being used to reduce emissions of the
heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. Later in the week, Politicoreported
Murkowski's staff had gone so far as to invite the lobbyists to run a
conference call organized by her staff that was intended to promote the
proposal to other Senate offices. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (citizensforethics.org)
reported Murkowski
accepted more than $50,000 in campaign cash from clients of the lobbyists that
helped craft her proposal.
Murkowski's staff has said her proposal could be
brought to the Senate floor as early as tomorrow--Wednesday, January
20--as an amendment to legislation to raise the national debt limit.
Pomeroy announced on January 8 that he would seek to
advance similar legislation, which would also prevent the Clean Air Act from
being used to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases that cause global
warming.
The 60-second Friends of the Earth Action radio ads, which
began airing today on several Anchorage and Fargo stations, can be
heard here (AK)
and here (ND).
RESOURCES FOR REPORTERS:
- Information about the impacts
the climate crisis could have on Alaska
and North
Dakota's economies - More on why the
Clean Air Act is an essential tool for solving the climate crisis - A letter
from a broad coalition of health, environmental and public interest groups
opposing the Murkowski proposal - A
letter from all Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee opposing the Murkowski proposal - Citizens for Responsibility
and Ethics in Washington on how lobbyists have been involved in the
creation and promotion of the Murkowski proposal
Friends of the Earth fights for a more healthy and just world. Together we speak truth to power and expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit. We organize to build long-term political power and campaign to change the rules of our economic and political systems that create injustice and destroy nature.
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