For More Information:
Daniel Silvermann, California 415/977-5526
daniel.silvermann@sierraclub.org
Ken Kramer, Texas 512/476-6962
kenwkramer@aol.com
For Immediate Release (February 24, 2000):
Californians Hear About Governor Bush's Toxic Record in Sierra Club TV Ads Highlighting Bush Ties to Polluters
(SACRAMENTO, California and AUSTIN, Texas)-- The Sierra Club today launched its first California TV ads in 2000, highlighting Texas Governor George Bush's failure to protect Texans from pollution and noting that he has received "more than a million dollars in campaign contributions from Texas's worst air polluters." The ads are designed to educate Californians about Bush's record, and to encourage them to ask the Governor to clean up the mess in Texas.
"Air pollution in Texas got worse over the last five years, and Governor Bush has done little to solve this crisis," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club's Executive Director. "Thousands of Texas children continue to have their health threatened by the worst air pollution in the country. That's why we are running these ads to call on Governor Bush to take concrete, comprehensive steps to attack the pollution crisis in Texas."
Pollution problems plague Texas, but Gov. Bush has dismissed complaints, attempting to confuse the issue by taking credit for pollution cuts achieved by his predecessor and those mandated by federal law. In fact, despite requirements in the federal Clean Air Act -- and despite the opportunities provided by the state's enormous amounts of air and water pollution -- Texas has curbed pollution at a slower rate than the rest of the nation.
"Texans worry that the chemicals dumped into our water and air are hurting our parents, our spouses and our children," said Ken Kramer, Director of Sierra Club's Lone Star (Texas) Chapter. "Unfortunately, Gov. Bush has been blowing smoke about his poor environmental record. These ads aim to set the record straight. When Texans have asked Gov. Bush to protect us from pollution, he's turned a deaf ear to us -- maybe he'll listen to folks in California instead."
One of Bush's first actions as governor in 1995 was to cancel an automobile pollution inspection program that would have helped reduce smog from cars in Texas' two most polluted cities, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
In addition, a loophole in the Texas Clean Air Act allows over 800 hundred aging industrial plants to operate with antiquated air pollution controls and spew out more pollution. These plants produce one-third of the state's industrial air pollution. Gov. Bush refused to support a comprehensive, binding pollution control program. Instead, he worked closely with the oil, gas and electric utility industry to develop a weak voluntary clean up proposal and left the old loophole open. The final rules were passed last May, and only a handful of the aging plants will face penalties if they don't reduce their pollution
The new television ad, airing in Sacramento and San Jose, builds on TV and radio spots that aired in New Hampshire in November, December and January, and in Michigan in February, which also highlighted Governor Bush's record on air and water pollution.
The full transcript of the new ad follows. Beta and VHS copies are available by calling Daniel Silverman at 415-977-5526 or Ken Kramer at 512/476-6962.
The Sierra Club is the nation's largest grassroots environmental organization with more than 550,000 members nationwide, including over 20,000 in Texas.
Script "Texas Pollution" (Final as Recorded) TV :30
2/22/00
ANNOUNCER [V/O]: Texas has a world class pollution problem.
(On screen: "Texas has a world class pollution problem." TIME, 2/21/00)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: Under Governor George Bush – Texas leads the nation in air pollution, in toxic chemicals released…
(On screen: "Texas leads in cancer-causing and toxic chemicals released." EPA Toxic Release Inventory Report 1999; www.epa.gov/enviro)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: in factories violating clean water standards
(On screen: Texas leads in the number of factories violating clean water standards. EPA Permit Compliance Data, 1999)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: And even though Texas has over 400,000 kids with asthma
(On screen: Texas has over 400,000 kids with asthma. American Lung Association, 1999)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: George W. Bush proposed weakening the Clean Air Act
(On screen: Texas [officials] are trying to seriously weaken the Clean Air Act. Boston Globe, 12-16-99)
ANNOUNCER [v/o] and took "more than a million dollars" in campaign contributions from Texas' worst air polluters.
(On screen: Took "more than $1 million" in campaign contributions from Texas' worst air polluters. TIME, 2/21/00)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: Call George W. Bush. Tell him to clean up the air and water, for our families, for our future.
(On screen: Tell George W. Bush to clean up the air and water. Call 512-463-2000. Paid for by Sierra Club)