FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2002

CONTACT:
Wendy Balazik, 202-675-2383

           SIERRA CLUB THANKS SENATORS FOR CLEANING UP ELECTIONS
Sierra Club Urges President Bush To Sign Campaign Finance Reform Into Law

Washington, DC: 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 influencing elections.  Senators voted today to
approve campaign finance reform, giving elections back to all Americans,
not just the highest polluting bidder.  The bill now goes to President Bush
for his signature.

"Americans understand the connection between a clean environment and clean
elections and don't want to see our clean air or drinking water safeguards
sold to the highest bidder," said Carl Pope, executive director of the
Sierra Club.  "We applaud those Senators and Representatives who joined
together to approve campaign finance reform and voted to get piles of
polluters' cash out of our elections.  President Bush should approve
campaign finance reform."

The oil and gas industries donated more than $32 million to candidates and
political parties in the last election, and now the Congress and President
Bush want to open the pristine and irreplaceable Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge for oil exploration.  Last week, Senators rejected higher fuel
economy standards for cars, SUVs and other light trucks, which would have
saved millions of barrels of oil a day and reduced our dependence on oil.
Senators who voted against raising fuel economy standards received an
average of $18,000 from the auto industry and those who supported raising
the standards accepted an average of $5,500 from the auto industry.

"Now, more than ever, Americans don't want their elected officials beholden
to polluters," continued Pope.  "Instead of answering to big campaign
donors, elected officials should answer to voters.  Americans want to get
big money out of elections so their voices can be heard, rather than
allowing big energy companies to buy excessive influence.  A check should
not buy one's place at the table."

The Sierra Club has worked diligently in support of campaign finance
reform.  Sierra Club members from all over the country have urged their
Senators and Representatives to approve this bill and they will continue
their efforts to ensure that President Bush signs this important measure
into law.

                # # #



Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]