WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Environmental issues could be the key issue for swing voters in the 2004 Presidential and Congressional elections, according to Democratic and Republican leaders interviewed by Living On Earth, a nationally syndicated radio program that airs 302 National Public Radio stations starting this weekend. Reporters who want to preview the show can view the transcript at http://www.environment2004.org/story.php?id=165 or listen to it online starting at 5 p.m. today by visiting http://www.loe.org.
The show suggests that Environment2004, the first Democratic environmental Section 527 organization, could be the most interesting group focusing on environmental issues. Section 527 groups are allowed to collect soft money to fund direct voter contact and issue messaging. Next week the Environment2004 Education Fund is co-sponsoring a major environmental address by former Vice President Al Gore attacking the Bush Administration's policies on global warming and the environment at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 12 p.m.
Living on Earth reporter Jeff Young noted that while "...the major environmental groups in Washington...have cranked up some rhetoric about the Bush record... most interesting, I think, is a new group created specifically to target the environment in order to advance the Democratic candidate in the fall... Environment 2004."
"I think the record, the failure to do right by the American people of the Bush Administration and its allies will carry the day with an important group of voters, the swing voters," said former EPA Administrator and Environment2004 board member Carol Browner.
"Environment2004 will provide voters with information about the failures of this administration to enforce the law, to clean up toxic waste, to protect our air and water, to protect those things which make us a great country. There is a group of voters who will be persuaded by this and who will vote with the Democratic nominee."
"Environment2004 is very interested in making sure the voters have the facts, that they understand what has happened to enforcement of the nation's environmental laws, what is happening to our public lands, the kinds of arrangements that are being made for special interests," Browner continued. "These are facts. This is not spin. These are all things that can be demonstrated in the policies and the day to day activities of the current administration and its allies."
Republican strategists agree that environmental issues could play a crucial role in the election.
"For any public official or candidate, ignoring the environment is hazardous to your political health," conceded prominent GOP pollster and strategist Kelly Ann Conway during the show. "There's no question that American9s care very deeply about the environment."
Environment2004 already has raised $500,000 in contributions and pledges since its launch in mid October. The goal is to raise a total of $5 million to spend in a handful of states to promote environmental issues and support Democratic candidates.
Last month Environment2004 launched its first issue advocacy campaign in Florida and released the group's first report, Destroying an American Treasure: The Bush Record in Florida. The study shows that under the Bush administration's plans to gut these Clean Air Act requirements, power plants would be permitted to emit 520 percent more toxic mercury, 225 percent more soot- causing sulfur dioxide, and 68 percent more smog causing nitrogen oxide than if the existing law were enforced. The study is available at http://www.Environment2004.org/FLreport.pdf.
For more information about Environment2004, please visit http://www.Environment2004.org.
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