Campaign Finance Reform Protect America's Environment From Dirty Money Anti-environmental special interests pollute our democratic process with large dirty money political contributions. Polluting industries wage multi-million dollar campaigns to influence who runs for office, who gets elected, and what issues dominate the political agenda. A large majority of Americans believe that protection of the environment should be given top priority, yet Congress passed 53 anti-environmental laws as part of the 2000 federal budget. These industries produce soot and smog-forming air pollution and gases that cause global warming.
Power plants are also a leading source of mercury, a toxin that poisons our fish and waterways.
Instead of doing everything possible to clean our air and curb global warming, the U.S. government subsidizes the coal and oil industries, permits old dirty power plants to continue polluting 10 times more than newer plants, and for the last five years has prohibited an increase in fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. Seven of the oldest and dirtiest power plant owners are currently pressuring Congress to further weaken clean air standards. Due to rampant logging and road building, fewer than five percent of our ancient forests remain today. These unique ecosystems support endangered species and other wildlife that may not survive anywhere else in the world. Logging and timber roads destroy these fragile habitats, cause mudslides, and pollute streams.