As Republican Attorneys General Association Holds National Meeting in Salt Lake City, AUFC Urges Attorneys General in the Pocket of Dirty Energy to Stop Putting Polluters Over People, Follow Salt Lake City Lead And Support the Clean Power Plan
“Unprecedented, Secretive Alliance” Between Corporate Polluters and GOP Attorneys General Could Cost Thousands of Jobs and Undermine the Health of Millions of Americans
Republican Attorneys General Have Banked Millions of Dollars from Dirty Energy
Washington, D.C. – As the Republican Attorneys General Association holds its policy retreat meeting for senior staff in Salt Lake City, UT this week and on the heels of the United States joining 175 other countries on Earth Day in signing the Paris climate accord, public health advocacy group Americans United for Change challenged members to quit doing the dirty work of their corporate polluter donors and instead support the economic and health benefits of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
Climate change would have significant impacts on Utah. An already parched state will see sustained droughts that stress water supplies and heat waves that endanger residents with existing health conditions like heart and respiratory diseases. Utah’s capital city, the host for Wednesday’s RAGA meeting, understands this. That’s why Salt Lake City signed on to support the Clean Power Plan and its common sense limits on carbon pollution from power plants, which will slash power plant carbon pollution by 32 percent, save the average American $200 a year on their energy bills, bring down health costs associated with asthma attacks, lung cancer and other air pollution-related illnesses, and pave the way for 250,000 new jobs when fully implemented.
Big polluters and their allies in Congress and state government know that in the court of public opinion they’ve already lost their case for ignoring the consequences of climate change. But they think they can use the courts to stop the Clean Power Plan despite its strong basis in existing law and despite the fact the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the EPA’s authority to take action to limit carbon pollution three times. Even George W. Bush’s former EPA head Christine Todd Whitman testified that the “EPA does have the authority” to go forward with a policy she called the “most flexible thing” the agency has ever done.
Republican Attorneys General that have expressed public opposition to or joined lawsuits against the Clean Power Plan have taken over $2.4 million from the Dirty Energy Sector the last two election cycles. A December 2014 New York Times exposé revealed an “unprecedented, secretive alliance” and coordination between Big Oil and Republican Attorneys General against environmental safeguards, including one Attorney General literally copying and pasting a letter drafted by energy lobbyists and sending it to the EPA on official letterhead. Those Attorneys General who have used their offices to protect the polluters’ bottom line have been richly rewarded with campaign contributions.
“What does it say when 175 leaders from around the world meet on Earth Day to follow U.S. leadership in addressing climate change and unchecked carbon pollution, and here at home, Republican Attorneys General from around the country still wave the science denier flag and actively seek to block efforts to protect public health and reduce pollution. It’s no coincidence that these Republicans Attorneys General who’ve taken tens of thousands of dollars from dirty energy interests are the same ones filing lawsuits against the Clean Power Plan. It shows just how much dirty energy companies have polluted our public servants and our politics,” said Blake Williams, a spokesman for Americans United for Change.
BACKGROUND: Republican Attorneys General Are In the Tank for Dirty Energy:
· FACT SHEET: How the Clean Power Plan will benefit Utah.
· WATCH: AUFC’s video exposing dirty energy’s influence over Republican Attorneys General in the states that have filed lawsuits against the Clean Power Plan.
· Devon Energy Is One Of The Most Important Financial Supporters For RAGA. According to an article in the New York Times, “Follow-up by Mr. Pruitt’s federalism office often came after coordination with industry representatives, especially from Devon Energy. The company, one of the most important financial supporters for the Republican Attorneys General Association, is guarded about its public profile. But it readily turned to Mr. Pruitt and his staff for help, setting up meetings for the attorney general with its chief executive, its chief lobbyist and other important players.” [New York Times, 12/6/14]
· API, ConocoPhillips, Alpha Natural Resources, And AEP Have Recently Joined RAGA, Bringing In Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars. According to an article in the New York Times, “In addition to the American Petroleum Institute, major energy companies — ConocoPhillips, the oil and gas company; Alpha Natural Resources, a coal mining giant; and American Electric Power, the nation’s biggest coal consumer — have recently joined the Republican Attorneys General Association, bringing in hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to the group, internal documents show.” [New York Times, 12/6/14]
· Oklahoma Gas & Electric Held Fund-Raising Event For RAGA To Fight The EPA. According to an article in the New York Times, “The fund-raising has taken place on the state level as well. Oklahoma Gas & Electric — a for-profit utility that Mr. Pruitt joined with in federal court to fight the E.P.A. — invited its employees to the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City late last year for a fund-raising event for Mr. Pruitt, drawing donations from about 45 company employees, including the chief executive. Four days later, Mr. Pruitt filed a new appeal in the case — timing that the utility said was a coincidence. While Mr. Pruitt’s efforts to raise money for the Republican Attorneys General Association have been an unqualified success, the lawsuits and regulatory appeals he has filed have yielded mixed results.” [New York Times, 12/6/14]
· Koch Industries Donated $130,315 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, Koch Industries donated $130,315 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, 7/8/15]
· Devon Energy Donated $125,000 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, Devon Energy donated $125,000 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
· America’s Natural Gas Alliance Donated $54,510 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, America’s Natural Gas Alliance donated $54,510 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
· American Coalition For Clean Coal Electricity Donated $50,150 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, ACCCE donated $50,150 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
· American Petroleum Institute Donated $50,000 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, API donated $50,000 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
· Peabody Energy Donated $25,415 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, Peabody Energy donated $25,415 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
· Edison Electric Institute Donated $25,000 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. According to CQ Political Money Line, EEI donated $25,000 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
· National Mining Association Donated $25,000 To RAGA In The 2014 Election Cycle. National Mining Association. According to CQ Political Money Line, NMA donated $25,000 in the 2014 election cycle to RAGA. [CQ Political Money Line, Accessed 7/8/15]
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