Posted on 11/21/2003 5:23:07 AM PST by TastyManatees
National Group Targets Senator Specter with Major Ad Campaign; Energy Bill a Payoff for Polluters
11/20/03 10:21:00 AM
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To: National Desk, Environment Reporter
Contact: Sara Zdeb, 202-222-0728, or Erich Pica 202-222-0739, both of Friends of the Earth
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on an energy bill that hands out more than $50 billion to polluting industries, Friends of the Earth today unveiled an ad campaign urging Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to block passage of the legislation. The ad is part of a larger campaign targeting nine senators.
The ads, in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News (circulation: 525,075), call the energy bill a "payoff for polluters" that includes at least $50 billion in giveaways to America's worst polluting industries. Sen. Specter has raised concerns with the bill's environmental impact, and his vote could help sustain a filibuster against it.
"Big energy companies are drilling for dollars with this energy bill, which hands over billions to polluters and weakens important clean air protections," said Friends of the Earth Legislative Director Sara Zdeb. "Senator Specter should stand up for Pennsylvanians' health and environment by opposing this grab bag of industry giveaways."
The ads highlight some of the energy conference report's most egregious provisions, including one that would delay important air pollution control measures for our cities. The ads also describe how the bill would shield MTBE producers from product liability lawsuits, exempt oil and gas drilling from important clean water requirements and approve billions in new tax breaks and spending subsidies for polluting industries.
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Friends of the Earth is the world's largest environmental network with member groups in 70 countries. The mission of Friends of the Earth is to defend the environment and champion a healthy and just world. For more information, visit http://www.foe.org.
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