These are the true villains, tip of the iceberg:
One industry-backed group, the 21st Century Energy Project, was created by lobbyist and former Enron consultant Ed Gillespie to drum up support for Bush’s energy plan.(39) Gillespie, head of one of Washington’s most prominent lobbying firms, served as a top communications aide to Bush during the presidential campaign and was on the transition team to help Commerce Secretary Don Evans move into his new post after the inauguration.(40)
USA is one of the 21st Century Energy Project’s ten members, which also include the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens for a Sound Economy and the Seniors Coalition.(41) But these members did not provide funds for the project. Instead, money for the 21st Century Energy Project came from Gillespie’s "corporate lobbying clients."(42) Enron, which stood to gain from Bush’s industry-friendly plan, kicked in more than $50,000. Daimler-Chrysler, which opposed parts of the energy plan that would have increased fuel economy standards, also gave $50,000.(43)
The 21st Century Energy Project used this money to fund an issue ad campaign that began July 10. The first wave of ads ran in Washington, D.C. for two weeks at a cost of $100,000. Three weeks later, another $100,000 (44) radio issue ad campaign began targeting several Representatives including Jack Quinn (R-N.Y.), Greg Ganske (R-Iowa), Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) and Mike Doyle (D-Penn.).(45) The ads asked Representatives to work with Bush and said, "Congress will vote soon on President Bush’s comprehensive energy plan – one that uses 21st century technology to promote conservation, diversify our energy supply and generate environmentally clean, reliable and affordable energy."
The 21st Century Energy Project was not the only industry-backed group that used USA to push for the GOP energy legislation. USA is also a part of the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth, a coalition of business and labor groups that includes the American Petroleum Institute, Chevron Corp., Dow Chemical, Dynegy, Edison Electric Institute, Nuclear Energy Institute and Shell Oil Company.(46) Among the membership list, which includes hundreds of energy companies and trade groups, USA is one of only two "consumer" groups (CBM member 60 Plus Association is the other).(47)
The Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth spent $1.2 million on TV ads that ran in Washington, D.C. from July 9, 2001 to the beginning of August.(48) The ads were similar to spots run by the 21st Century Energy Project and invoked images of the 1970s energy crisis. The alliance’s ads said, "To keep America’s economy strong and to meet the needs of tomorrow, we need a strong energy plan today."(49)
The corporate funding of the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth is almost as clear as the naked promotion of the Bush plan. "(O)il companies and the American Petroleum Institute are major financial backers of the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth," said one news source.(50) And according to a fundraising memo written by energy lobbyist Wayne Valis, "To join the coalition, you must agree to support the Bush energy proposal in its entirety and not to lobby for changes to the bill … If you are caught attempting to lobby behind the back of the White House, you will be expelled from the coalition. I have been advised that this White House ‘will have a long memory.’"(51)
Yet another business-backed energy coalition, the Energy Stewardship Alliance, also received USA’s support.(52) The alliance, described as a "pro-drilling group backed by the oil and gas industry,"(53) includes groups such as the American Petroleum Institute, the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the National Association of Manufacturers. Again, USA and the 60 Plus Association are the only two members of the Energy Stewardship Alliance that are not energy producers, unions or trade/professional groups.
And like the other groups, the Energy Stewardship Alliance ran issue ads conjuring up images of the 1970s and said, "Today America is more dependent on foreign oil than during the energy crisis of the 70s … that’s why 75 percent of Alaskans support energy exploration in ANWR."(54) The nearly $200,000 ad buy ran in Washington, D.C. in March 2001.(55) |
