By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor
Interest groups on both ends of the spectrum have been airing budget-related ads over the past few weeks. Now, environmental groups Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA) and the national League of Conservation Voters (LCV) are getting in on the act – and they aren’t just targeting Republicans.
CVPA and LCV are hitting U.S. Reps. Jason Altmire (D-Allegheny) and Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne) for their votes in favor of an amendment to the House spending bill that limits EPA enforcement of a variety of regulations, including mercury pollution.
“After taking nearly thirty thousand dollars from oil and gas companies – Congressman Jason Altmire/Lou Barletta voted to block the enforcement of a vital mercury pollution law,” reads the hard-hitting ad.
“They buried it in a spending bill and passed it in the middle of the night. Letting polluters off the hook. And letting mercury back into our air and water. Mercury, that causes brain damage in kids.”
“The EPA has a responsibility under the law to set air pollution limits that protect the public’s health and hold polluters accountable. It is unconscionable for politicians like Representatives Altmire and Barletta to block scientists at the EPA from doing their job,” said CVPA Executive Director Josh McNeil. “Scientists, not politicians, should determine our air pollution limits.”
The radio ads will run in the Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Allentown-Bethlehem, and Sunbury media markets, according to McNeil. They are complemented by online advertising and by 8622 phone calls into the 4th and 11th districts to inform constituents of the vote.
Looking past the substance of these charges for a moment, kudos to the CVPA and LCV for taking aim at both parties with these ads. Often, interest groups grant a free pass to members of Congress from whichever party is more sympathetic to their cause. Not the case here.
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2 Responses
I’ve heard your ad and wonder why there aren’t simular and more ads concerning those congressmen who voted to force cfl light bulbs into law that contain mercury and cost American jobs because they are made in foriegn countries and cause more pollution when they must be shipped across oceans and require specialcare when being desposed by millions of people who are not going to be concerned about the environment when they must go to more precautions to get rid of broken or worn bulbs. Does the mercury inside these bulbs not concern this organization when 1 or more bulbs are damaged inside a childs home when workerts making the bulbs are required special precautions to manufacture them in foriegn countries thet are not eco-friendly?
Shouldn’t we be just as concerned with the politicians that are mandating these bulbs containing mercury or are they considered eco-friendly congress people because of some other reason unknown to me?
This ad, aside from completely misconstruing the facts, is also confusing based on previous endorsements that Congressman Altmire has received. The League of Conservation Voters, who have endorsed Congressman Altmire, released a statement by their president 3 years ago stating that “Representative Altmire has a solid record of environmental protection and a solid record of support for renewable energy” (LCV President Gene Karpinski). “As a Representative from Pennsylvania, Jason is keenly aware of the severity of the energy crisis, and has fought to create clean energy jobs right here at home.”
To make my point clear: The League of Conservation Voters, by running this ad, is not insulting Jason Altmire but rather their own intelligence. If Jason is so bad, why have they consistently endorsed him? This ad is more an admission of idiocy on the part of the LCV.