More Fake Letters Opposing Climate Change Bill Unearthed

August 21, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Fake letters opposing climate change legislation were sent to members of Congress, on behalf of general citizens, including those staying in nursing homes, according to emerging news reports.

The findings are the results of a House committee that opened an inquiry into letters forged by Washington, D.C., lobbying firm Bonner & Associates, reports the Guardian UK.

This follows the news, earlier in August, that 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. In this case also, Bonner & Associates was the lobbying firm involved.

After that, the House select committee on energy independence and global warming began its inquiry, and now has confirmed a total of 13 faked letters.

One of the letters purported to be from a woman staying at a nursing center, the Guardian reports.

“We are concerned about our electricity bills. Many of our seniors, as you know, are on low fixed incomes,” said a letter to Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper that claimed to be from the Erie Center on Health and Aging. “Please don’t vote to force cost increases on seniors.”

The committee is still investigating 45 other letters that were sent to mostly junior representatives from coal states.

This comes against a backdrop of companies and advocacy groups pushing harder than ever, and spending more than ever, to make their voices heard on climate change. In the 12 weeks leading up to the House of Representatives’ vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, more than 460 new businesses and interest groups jumped into the fray.

Nearly 1,150 different organizations are known to be paying a lobbyist to influence climate legislation one way or another, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

On the other side of the line, unions and green groups are starting to turn up the heat on their messaging.

The “Made for America” jobs tour kicked off in Ohio and will visit 50 sites in 22 states, reports Yahoo.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

The recent discovery in Australia of a process that removes the contaminant part of the coal and doubles the amount of energy extracted should be attracting the attention of the coal and energy companies, instead of spending their money trying to distort democratic processes.

Roger | August 24th, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

miggs on European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990
"Yet another example of the potential of combined heat & power to transform..."

Stevenson on News Corp. Taps Hara for Energy Efficiency, Environmental Management
"All of us should think of ways to save energy now. It is not a myth,..."

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Environmental Leader