Sununu Pushes Pro-Oil Energy Agenda, Blocks Clean Energy After Taking Over $230,000 in Campaign Cash from Big Oil

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September 15, 2008                                                                                                         Catherine Corkery: 603-224-8222

                                                                                                                                                           603-491-1929

Sununu Pushes Pro-Oil Energy Agenda, Blocks Clean Energy

After Taking Over $230,000 in Campaign Cash from Big Oil

Sierra Club Calls New Sununu TV Ad Misleading

Concord, New Hampshire—The Sierra Club today expressed concern about the level of influence money from Big Oil is playing in John Sununu’s campaign. The environmental group is drawing attention to figures from the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics that reveal that John Sununu has taken over $230,000 in campaign cash from the oil and gas industry. 

Despite claims made in a misleading new TV ad, Sununu is anything but independent. Sununu has pushed a pro-oil energy agenda including billions in tax breaks for oil companies and refusing to crack down on the oil speculators and price-gougers who are gaming the system at the expense of Granite State families paying near-record prices for heating oil and gas.  Sununu has also opposed key clean energy policies including a Renewable Electricity Standard and tax incentives for wind and solar power.

“After taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash from Big Oil, it’s no wonder that Sununu has sided with the oil companies time and time again,” said Catherine Corkery, NH Sierra Club Chapter Chair.  “Sununu may run misleading ads claiming he’s independent, but a quick look at his record shows that he’s been a very dependable vote for Big Oil, President Bush, and special interests.  New Hampshire can’t afford a senator that supports billions in government giveaways to the oil industry while blocking protections for consumers and the clean energy policies that will create millions of new jobs and make America more energy independent.”

Sununu’s Big Oil-Friendly energy agenda:    

• Voted AGAINST taking back over $13 billion in government giveaways to Big Oil[1]
• Voted AGAINST cracking down on oil speculators gaming the system at the expense of consumers[2]
• Voted AGAINST imposing a windfalls profits tax to make sure Big Oil is paying it fair share on its tens of billions of dollars in record profits[3]
• Voted AGAINST criminal penalties for price gouging during energy emergencies—TWICE[4]
• Voted AGAINST a national Renewable Electricity Standard[5]
• Voted AGAINST key tax incentives for clean energy that are expiring soon—incentives that will result in $19 billion in lost economic growth and cost 116,000 American jobs in the wind and solar industries alone if they are allowed expire.[6]