FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2002

CONTACT:
Wendy Balazik: 202-675-2383

SIERRA CLUB PRAISES HOUSE FOR CLEANING UP ELECTIONS
Shays-Meehan Bill Next Step to Improving Campaign System

Washington, DC: Americans are one step closer to taking back their
elections from corporate donors, thanks to the Representatives who voted
for Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill.  Elections and the
environment will get a little bit cleaner because polluting industries will
no longer be permitted to dump unlimited amounts of money into campaigns.

The Shays-Meehan Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act is a critical step
in giving power back to voters by taking unregulated soft money -- huge,
unlimited and unreported donations from corporations and wealthy
individuals -- out of elections.  The House passed the bill by a vote of
240-189.  The Sierra Club today thanked Representatives who voted to
approve the Shays-Meehan bill and urged President Bush to sign the bill
into law.

"Americans want to get big money out of elections so their voices can be
heard, rather than allowing big polluters, like Enron, to buy excessive
influence," said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.  "After
donating thousands of dollars to the Bush campaign, Enron had a hand in
ghostwriting Vice President Cheney's energy policy while Americans were
shut out of the process.  A check should not buy one's place at the table."

According to opensecrets.org, Enron's Political Action Committee and its
employees contributed $114,000 to President Bush during the 2000 campaign,
while former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay served as one of President Bush's
Pioneers, individuals who raised at least $100,000 for the campaign.
Shortly after the election, Lay had six meetings with Vice President
Cheney.

"When Congress listens to voters rather than to corporations, they'll hear
that Americans want to drink clean water, breathe clean air and marvel at
beautiful landscapes," continued Pope.  "Now, more than ever, Americans
don't want their elected officials beholden to corporate interests.  We
applaud those Representatives who supported this clean campaign finance
reform measure.  President Bush must make this legislation the law of the
land."


The Sierra Club has worked diligently in support of campaign finance
reform.  In the past week alone, the Sierra Club has contacted tens of
thousands of our members in districts around the country, urging them to
let their Representatives know that it is time to vote for the Shays-Meehan
bill and against the Ney bill and "poison pill" amendments.



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Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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