Sept. 3, 2009 - Today the AAUW, National Wildlife Federation, NAACP, Center for American Progress Action Fund and Sierra Club urged citizens to blow the whistle on deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal tactics being perpetrated by big polluters and their lobbyists to strike down clean energy innovation.
Adam Kolton, senior director, congressional and federal affairs at the National Wildlife Federation, said:
“The hotline we have launched will help people fight back against big polluters and their lobbyists.
“As we know all too well by now, a contractor for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity sent more than a dozen forged and fraudulent letters to members of Congress in opposition to the American Clean Energy and Security Act. ACCCE and its contractor, Bonner and Associates, are now under investigation by the House Select Committee on Global Warming and Energy Independence.
“We hope this investigation uncovers the full extent of the wrong doing but we fear we may only have seen the tip of the iceberg.
“Between the fake letters to Congress and a recently leaked American Petroleum Institute memo urging its member companies to have their employees masquerade as concerned “energy citizens” at events closed to actual citizens it’s becoming increasingly clear that additional steps need to be taken to ensure that a fair, open and honest debate takes place on the clean energy jobs bill.
“That’s why today National Wildlife Federation, Center for American Progress Action Fund and the NAACP are launching the Polluter Fraud Hotline – a toll free line where citizens can blow the whistle on fake letters or other fraudulent or deceptive tactics being perpetrated by those seeking to defeat clean energy legislation.”
MORE INFORMATION
Citizens calling 866-363-4648 will have the option of reporting if they themselves were a victim of a forged letter or have knowledge of one; if they have knowledge of or witnessed an event staged by the American Petroleum Institute or oil and coal interests under the guise of being a true citizen-grassroots event; if they were coerced to attend such an event or denied access to one; if they are energy company employees or contractors and want to leave a tip about unethical or possible illegal activity or if they want to report other instances of fraud or deceptive tactics including misleading ads, mailing, or calls they may have received.
Citizens can also e-mail tips@polluterfraud.com.
Staff from NWF, NAACP or Center for American Progress Action Fund will review all tips that come in and take appropriate follow-up action.
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