11/16/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate Geller, (202) 785-8683 or kate_geller@lcv.org

Rep Blunt Forgets $1 Million in Campaign Cash from Big Oil, Energy Interests

New LCV Radio Ad Reminds Rep Blunt of Big Oil Contributions, Votes Against Clean Energy Jobs

WASHINGTON – Responding to a recent television interview in which Rep. Roy Blunt said he "[doesn't] know if it's true" that he's taken more than $1 million from Big Oil and energy interests, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) today launched a statewide radio campaign to remind the congressman of the facts. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Rep. Blunt has received $1,012,398 in campaign contributions from energy interests.[1]

“Congressman Blunt cannot hide from the fact the he’s received more than $1 million in campaign cash from Big Oil and energy interests,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “More importantly, though, is the fact that Congressman Blunt cannot hide from his record of consistently voting with Big Oil and against clean energy initiatives that create jobs, increase our security and cut carbon pollution.”
 
The radio ad, titled “Forgot,” is running statewide in Missouri over the next two weeks.
 
Listen to the radio ad here: http://lcv-ftp.org/LCV/LCV_Forgot.mp3

View Rep. Blunt’s interview with KSPR here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aTcGr5DxGU

Contrary to Rep. Blunt’s claims, the American Clean Energy & Security Act, which the congressman voted against when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, would help create nearly 36,000 clean energy jobs in Missouri.[2] The legislation would also reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and place limits on harmful carbon pollution. (Rep. Blunt also voted against in the American Clean Energy & Security Act when it passed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.)
 
Additionally, despite the congressman’s claims of supporting wind and solar power, Rep. Blunt has repeatedly said “no” when it comes to clean energy.[3] In fact, when it very clearly came down to choosing between job-creating tax incentives for clean energy or protecting Big Oil’s profits, Rep. Blunt chose to protect Big Oil’s profits and continue billions in taxpayer-funded giveaways.[4]

Rep. Blunt’s record of siding with Big Oil over clean energy jobs stands in sharp contrast to public support for clean energy in Missouri. Nearly seven out of 10 Missourians support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation, according to a recently released Pew poll of statewide voters.[5] Last year, voters in Missouri overwhelming approved a state-level Renewable Electricity Standard (Prop C, 66% yes vote), which requires investor-owned utilities to generate or purchase 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources, such solar, wind and biomass.[6]

Script:
 
[SFX:  TV SNOW]

Reporter:  They claim that you took nearly a million dollars from big oil and energy interests.  Is that true?
 
Blunt:  Well I don’t know if it’s true or not.
 
[SFX:  Music fades in]
 
Anncr: If someone gave you a million dollars… would you ever forget it?
 
Congressman Roy Blunt says he did.

Blunt:  Well I don’t know if it’s true or not.
 
Anncr: His own public filings show he took over a million dollars from Big Oil and energy special interests.
 
But when the press started asking tough questions – asking if he really took all that money -- Roy Blunt started forgetting.
 
But he didn’t forget what Big Oil wanted.
 
Voting for billion-dollar tax giveaways to the industry.
 
Against tax credits for wind or solar power to help families cut their bills.
 
Against the clean energy bill that will cut America’s dependence on foreign oil, cut carbon pollution, and help create 36 thousand Missouri jobs.

You know, a recent poll shows that 7 in 10 Missourians support more clean American energy… but Roy Blunt votes with Big Oil.

Roy Blunt may have forgotten how much oil money he’s taken, but it’s left a stain on his record that Missouri families won’t forget.

Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters.
 
Documentation: http://lcv-ftp.org/LCV/forgot_backup.pdf

# # #

[1] http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00005195&type=I
[2] http://images2.americanprogress.org/CAP/2009/06/factsheets/peri_mo.pdf
[3] Oil Subsidies Repeal (Roll Call Vote 40, 1/18/07), Clean Energy (Roll Call Vote 832, 08/04/2007), CAFÉ & Clean Energy (Roll Call 1140, 12/06/07), Clean Energy Tax Credits (Roll Call Vote 84, 2/27/2008), Undermining Clean Energy Tax Credits (Roll Call Vote 343, 5/21/2008), Clean Energy Tax Credits (Roll Call Vote 344, 5/21/2008), Gutting Renewable Energy (Roll Call Vote 598, 09/16/08), Clean Energy & Climate (Roll Call Vote 447, 6/26/2009)
[4] Oil Subsidies Repeal (Roll Call Vote 40, 1/18/07), Clean Energy Tax Credits (Roll Call Vote 84, 2/27/2008), Clean Energy Tax Credits (Roll Call Vote 344, 5/21/2008)
[5] http://www.pewglobalwarming.org/newsroom/polls_5nov2009.html#polls
[6] http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/ballotissueresults.asp?arc=1&eid=256