Lobbyist Opposing Climate Bill Sent Forged Letters to House

August 3, 2009

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Letters sent to a member of the House of Representatives, under the guise of the NACCP and Hispanic advocacy groups opposing the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, were forged, according to various news reports.

The letters, sent to the office of freshman Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello, featured practically identical language, and were signed by a non-existent member of Latino group Creciendo Juntos, as well as five fake members of the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP, reports the Associated Press.

The letters were sent by Bonner & Associates, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm.

Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., co-sponsor of the bill, is seizing on the headlines in order to begin an investigation by the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “This fraud on Congress shows that some opponents of clean energy have resorted to forgery and theft to block progress,” Markey said, in a statement.

While Perriolo initially considered the ramifications of the letters, in the end he voted for the climate bill, a move that the Republican Party took him to task for, saying he showed an “utter lack of concern” for middle-class families he served.

Bonner & Associates has apologized to the groups whose identities it absconded, blaming the problem on a temporary employee.

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Reader Comments

We need this climate bill more than ever.Look at the unusual weather in the upper west coast areas-Sometimes I wonder if alot of people are just turning a blind eye to our global environmental needs?
Very frustrating-alot of the slowness is due to alot of companies,people,etc who want to be sure and wring out every last dollar before they really have to do something. Money really talks.

Sonja Chavez | August 3rd, 2009

Time to fire this firm and ban it from working in Washington or anywhere else. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

carly | August 5th, 2009

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