Big Oil launches attack ads against jobs and clean water bill

Contact: Brendon Cechovic, Washington Conservation Voters
206.437.6318 brendon@wcvoters.org

Olympia - The national oil companies who operate refineries in Washington state are reportedly launching a paid media campaign against the Clean Water Act of 2010 (HB 3181/ SB 6851), legislation that would create jobs by funding clean water infrastructure improvements across the state.

“We’ve now seen every trick in the book from big oil,” said Kurt Fritts, Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters. “They sense the momentum behind this landmark clean water legislation and are doing everything in their power to kill the bill. Fortunately, Washington voters and state lawmakers understand that this is the time for clean water and job creation across the state.”

Oil companies have run a full-scale campaign this legislative session against the Clean Water Act. They’ve hired a PR firm, flown in executives from Texas, threatened the legislature with lawsuits, and used workers from the refineries to “front” their efforts.

An excerpt from one of their emails to legislators this week demonstrates the level of the oil industry’s rhetoric around the current proposal, a .85% increase of the existing hazardous substance tax:

“At some point the issue of being able to supply fuels to the U.S. becomes one of national security. Just think: “What would happen if China was supplying our fuel and they stopped shipment to the U.S?” What would the riots be like? The gasoline shortages would be far worse than what we saw in Houston and New Orleans during recent hurricanes. The riots could be nationwide.  Would we go to war with our suppliers?”

“Voters know who is behind these misleading ad campaigns,” Fritts added. “And they know that a small increase in an existing pollution tax isn’t going to dent the oil companies’ record profits.”