Sarbanes, Environmental Advocates: Earth Day Agenda Blocked by Big Money Politics

2 Environmental groups rally behind the Government By the People Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) was joined today by Sierra Club President Michael Brune, Oil Change International Founder and Executive Director Steve Kretzmann, League of Conservation Voters Legislative Director Sara Chieffo, Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica and Food & Water Watch Water Program Director Emily Wurth to call on Congress to end the influence of big money politics on our government.

"Big money politics is polluting our democracy and our environment," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Everyday Americans overwhelmingly support policies to promote clean energy and protect our environment, but their voices are being drowned out by wealthy polluters and big money special interests."

A new report, Polluting Our Democracy and Our Environment: Dirty Fuels Money in Politics, compiled by Sierra Club and Oil Change International shows how our country's most notorious polluters influence public policy. The report highlights how environmental progress is being blocked by the big money politics of special interest polluters.

"The evidence is mounting: the same people polluting our air and water with toxic pollution are polluting our democracy with toxic money. That's why it's more important than ever that we take steps to protect our environment by protecting our democracy from corrupting political money -- and we should start by passing the Government by the People Act," said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.

"People across the country are frustrated and disturbed by the influence wielded by those who can write the biggest check and bend government's will to benefit those who pollute our air, our water, and block all action to address dangerous climate change," said Sara Chieffo, Legislative Director at the League of Conservation Voters. "We commend Congressman Sarbanes for his leadership to boost the influence of small donors and help millions more Americans play a central role in determining who runs for Congress, who wins elections, and what issues make it onto the agenda in Washington."

"Protecting our air and water, addressing climate change and promoting clean energy requires taking on some of the most powerful special interests during elections," said Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth. "The Government By the People Act begins to level the unbalanced financial playing field that these companies and two bad court decisions have created by supporting smaller donors to take their elections back. This legislation is long overdue."

"When corporations buy influence in politics, it leads to lax regulations that harm consumers, their communities and our vital shared resources," said Emily Wurth, Water Program director at Food & Water Watch. "That's why we need a government that works for the people, not big business."

Earlier this year, Congressman Sarbanes introduced the Government By the People Act (HR 20) – a bipartisan bill with more than 140 cosponsors and 400,000 citizen cosponsors that would empower millions of everyday Americans to take back their government from big money special interests.

The proposal has been endorsed by the Sierra Club more than 35 other national organizations advocating for the environment, education, labor, civil rights, clean government and more.