For More Information:
Grant Cope
grant@pirg.org
U.S. PIRG
218 D Street S.E.
Washington, DC 20003
202-546-9707
[
Tools for the Rollback -- $$ and Lobbyists
In an earlier report, Polluter Payoff: The Multi-million Dollar Campaign to Roll Back Superfund, PIRG examined the contributions to congressional candidates between 1991 and 1997 (with 1998 contribution information when available) from companies dedicated to rolling back Superfund. Polluter Payoff found that 188 anti-Superfund PACs gave more than $96 million dollars in that time. However, the $96 million dollars is not the total amount contributed by the anti-Superfund PACs, because "soft money" and individual contributions are not included. General Electric was a generous contributor to congressional candidates, contributing $2,146,595, sixth highest of the PACs studied. In addition, General Electric gave $586, 802 in "soft money" contributions and $271,287 in individual contributions for a total of $3,004,684. If GE succeeds in getting legislation passed to block dredging in the Hudson and Housatonic Rivers, the investment will have been well worth it. Estimates for the cost of dredging the Hudson range as high as $3 billion.
Along with fat cat campaign contributions to members of Congress, the companies seeking to roll back Superfund have sent an army of lobbyists to Capital Hill to push their anti-environmental agenda. A PIRG study found that companies lobbying to roll back Superfund outnumber environmental groups seeking to defend and strengthen the law 30 to one. PIRG found that 99 different companies that have joined coalitions seeking to roll back Superfund, or that are members of trade associations seeking to weaken the law, have hired at least 150 "in house" or "outside" lobby firms to work on Superfund. By contrast, only five national environmental groups -- PIRG, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth (FOE), have registered to lobby on Superfund with the House Clerkâs office. The PIRG study was based on a review of 1997 and 1998 lobbying filings at the House clerk's office by companies that have supported legislation to roll back Superfund in the 104th or 105th Congress and environmental groups opposing those legislative efforts.
[