Re: No Back Room Deals for Big Polluters

9.17.2010

Re: No Back Room Deals for Big Polluters

On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM, Environmental Defense Action Fund <takeaction@edf.org> wrote:

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According to a news report this week, Congressional climate action opponents are hosting back room meetings with polluter lobbyists promising to block action on any new climate legislation in exchange for campaign donations.

Help us tell your members of Congress, "No Back Room Deals for Big Polluters."

Dear Scotts Contracting,

Climate action opponents are promising big polluters to block climate action next year in exchange for campaign contributions.

Tell your members of Congress "No Back Room Deals for Polluters."

According to a report in Politico, House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton (R-TX), Committee member Fred Upton (R-MI), and three other Republican Committee members met this week with 40-50 corporate lobbyists at the National Republican Club.

An industry source who attended the meeting said the message was clear:

"You should be giving us money because we're going to be in charge. We'll ensure there is no climate bill. But at the same time, they think they'll build nuclear plants and more clean coal."

Meanwhile, in the Senate, West Virginia Democrat Jay Rockefeller claimed to have 53 Senators supporting his bill to block the Environmental Protection Agency from cutting climate pollution from America's largest carbon emitters. He needs only 7 more votes to reach the filibuster-proof 60-vote majority.

These are very high stakes in our fight to hold polluters accountable, promote cleaner air, and fight for climate action. We need your continued support and activism now more than ever before.

Please send an email to your members of Congress today and tell them "No Back Room Deals for Polluters."

Our members of Congress need to hear from their constituents on these issues -- they need to know that the polluters aren't the only ones paying attention. Let them know that you oppose any and all efforts to weaken America's clean air laws and that you support clean energy and climate action.

What's at Stake

The EPA is scheduled to begin implementing new climate pollution limits on January 1. This is the result of a 2007 Supreme Court ruling declaring that the EPA not only has the authority to regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act, it has the obligation to do so.

Last year, the EPA issued an endangerment finding detailing the threat of global warming to human health. EPA later issued its plans to initiate pollution limits starting with America's biggest emitters.

When the Senate decided it was not going to vote on a comprehensive climate and energy bill this year, the full attention of the big polluters and their lobbyists shifted to EPA climate action. Senators from both sides of the aisle have offered legislative proposals to limit EPA authority, including an insidious plan to attach an amendment to must-pass appropriations bills.

This is part of a broader strategy by the big polluters to strike down a wide range of pollution limits. Corporate lobbyists are also pushing to weaken the "boiler rule," which limits emissions of toxic mercury, dioxins, and other hazardous pollutants.

The polluting industries have already spent $514 million over the last 18 months to block climate legislation. And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has pledged to spend $100 million over the next few years to continue to promote big polluter and other corporate interests. We must remain vigilant in the fight.

Please email your members of Congress today to make sure they know you support EPA climate action and you support America's clean air laws.

With your support, we can stand up to the big polluters and their friends in Congress and keep up the pressure to promote climate legislation.

Thank you for your activism and support,
Environmental Defense Action Fund

Environmental Defense Action Fund
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20009
1-800-591-1919