1. Documents Show Influence of Polluters on Energy Policy

It's about time!  After eleven months of stone-walling by the
administration, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham handed over records that
help show who was involved in drafting our Enron-energy policy. And - no
surprises here - Abraham found time to hear from 36 representatives of
business interests, including six meetings with Ken Lay's disgraced Houston
energy company.  But he couldn't squeeze in a single chat with
environmental or consumer groups.

The documents were released only after the Natural Resources Defense
Council had successfully sued for their disclosure.  Sierra Club has its
own legal action pending against Vice President Cheney and members of his
energy task force, seeking similar information.  The task force produced an
energy plan that relies heavily on polluting industries like oil and coal,
and gives short shrift to conservation and renewables.  No wonder Cheney's
being coy about who helped write it!

For more information on the information Spencer Abraham tried to withhold,
go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16943-2002Mar25.html



4. Let your Senators Know You Were Watching on Campaign Finance Reform

Our representatives like to know that people are paying attention when they
do something right.  And last week, Senators did something very right
indeed, voting to get big money out of politics by instituting real
campaign finance reform.  So call your Senators and let'em know you
appreciated what they did.  Or maybe your Senators were worried about those
campaign contributions drying up, and voted wrong.  Make sure they know you
took note, and that next time you'll expect them to side with the American
people and the environment, not their wealthy campaign donors.

Go to the site below to see how your Senators voted:
http://www.sierraclub.org/votewatch/2002/cfr.asp

Then call the Senate Switchboard at (202) 224 3121, ask for your Senators,
and deliver the message.

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To take action on all your favorite Sierra Club issues, please visit:
http://www.sierraclub.org/action



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