FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2010
CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
Sierra Club Ads Call Out Lincoln for Backing Big Oil Bailout,
Efforts to Gut Clean Air Act Protections
Washington, D.C.—The Sierra Club has launched a new radio ad campaign calling out Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) for her decision to co-sponsor legislation that would undermine the Clean Air Act's protections for public health and welfare and bailout big polluters at the expense of job-creating clean energy and cleaner burning natural gas. The 60-second radio spots, which began running yesterday, will run for two weeks in the Little Rock and Fort Smith media markets. The ad can be heard HERE.
"Not only has Senator Lincoln helped stall comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, now she wants to take us backwards and gut the Clean Air Act too," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director. "Senator Lincoln's actions could prevent President Obama from protecting the well-documented threats to public health and welfare presented by global warming pollution. The legislation she supports would bail out Big Oil by halting the president's plans to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil by increasing fuel economy standards and would also prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from cleaning up dirty coal plants and other big polluters like oil refineries. Senator Lincoln's constituents ought to ask her why she wants to help Big Oil and out-of-state coal companies to the detriment of the clean energy businesses and natural gas industry that are actually creating jobs in her home state."
The ads refer to Senator Lincoln's decision to co-sponsor an extreme anti-science "disapproval resolution" sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Not only would the legislation gut a key portion of the Clean Air Act that allows the Environmental Protection Agency to tackle global warming and crack down on big polluters like coal plants and oil refineries, it would effectively reverse a key 2007 Supreme Court decision. Similar legislation advanced by Senator Murkowski was written by lobbyists for big polluters, and many special interests—including Big Oil—are actively supporting the legislation co-sponsored by Senator Lincoln. In addition, the legislation would stop President Obama from moving forward with important plans to increase fuel economy standards and cut tailpipe emissions from automobiles. This plan, which is fully supported by the auto industry, would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil and save consumers at least $500 a year at the gas pump.
By stalling efforts to build the clean energy economy, Senator Lincoln's actions will hurt the job-creating clean energy and natural gas industries in Arkansas, while favoring oil and coal companies located outside of her state.
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The full script of the 60-second ad, "Choosing Sides," appears below:
"Record job losses… foreclosures… rising costs… Arkansas is hurting.
"In these tough times, we need strong leaders to stand up to special interests, and help get our economy back on track.
"But NOW, instead of standing up for Arkansas' future, Senator Blanche Lincoln is co-sponsoring legislation to roll back the Clean Air Act laws that protect us from polluters putting poison into the air we breathe.
"Health experts say that Lincoln's action will undermine one of our country's greatest health and environmental laws.
"They're urging Senators to oppose it.
"And if this wasn't bad enough, a major national newspaper reports that the legislation Lincoln supports was done at the behest of lobbyists.
"Senator Lincoln, it's time to choose sides.
"Lobbyists and Washington insiders—or the health and welfare of Arkansas families?
"Call Senator Lincoln at 501-375-2993.
"Tell her Arkansas needs more jobs and clean air. NOT more favors for special interest lobbyists.
"Paid for by Sierra Club of Arkansas"
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