The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Nick Berning, 202-222-0748, nberning@foe.org
Kelly Trout, 202-222-0722, ktrout@foe.org

Response to Senator Graham's Call for More 'Business-Friendly' Climate Legislation

WASHINGTON

Senator
Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement earlier today that he is
working on new climate change legislation because he thinks existing
bills are "onerous on business" and he'd like to write more
"business-friendly" legislation.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica had the following response:

"The
energy and climate bill that passed the House last summer was one of
the biggest pieces of corporate welfare ever to be considered by
Congress, with $170
billion in giveaways to polluting industries. Big oil, dirty coal,
corporate agribusiness -- they all got a piece of the pie. The notion
that the bill was onerous on business is laughable. Some of the worst polluters helped write the blueprint the bill was based on.

"Now
these greedy corporations are angling for more, and Senator Graham is
out to help them. This is special interest politics at its worst, and
it is truly appalling. No wonder so many people are turned off by the
ways of Washington.

"What's
needed is a bill that is less friendly to corporate polluters, not
more. Congress should pass a bill that eliminates offsets and other
loopholes, goes further to create clean energy jobs, and is more
aggressive about reducing the carbon pollution that threatens our
economy."

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.

(202) 783-7400