The Sierra Club announced yesterday that we are launching two television ads about U.S. Senator Rob Portman’s voting record on clean air and climate action, to run on Ohio broadcast TV this month. The ads call on Portman, who has taken $1,055,154[1] from polluters, to stop voting against the historic Clean Power Plan, which includes life-saving protections that set the first-ever limits on dangerous carbon pollution from power plants.
In response, Portman told Ohio public radio “I don’t know what the ad’s going to say. But I hope it’s truthful.”
First of all, the Sierra Club’s ads can be viewed here and here.
What’s more, the ads just state the facts about the benefits of the Clean Power Plan and Senator Portman’s voting record.
It’s just the facts that the Clean Power Plan brings significant public health and climate benefits to families across the United States, saving upwards of $54 billion per year. Furthermore, reducing exposure to particle pollution and ozone in 2030 will avoid up to 3,600 premature deaths, 90,000 asthma attacks in children, up to 1,700 heart attacks, and 300,000 missed school and work days every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, average electric utility bills for consumers are projected to decline by more than $80 per year when the Clean Power Plan is fully implemented.
Another fact that didn’t actually make the ad: a majority of Ohioans back the Clean Power Plan.
We’re running ads that highlight this reality because, so far, it doesn’t seem like Senator Portman is listening -- listening to the facts or to the people of Ohio.
Anyone who looks at Portman’s public voting and advocacy record will see that he voted against clean air, public health, and climate protections multiple times.
In March, the Senator introduced an amendment that would enable states to completely skirt the protections of the Clean Power Plan. Previously, he voted in favor of a blanket proposal to prevent any safeguards to reign in unlimited carbon pollution. Portman has also voted in favor of a separate proposal to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing any protections against carbon pollution.
Now, Senator Portman has the opportunity to change his tune and start voting to protect public health.
A proposed bill has been introduced in the Senate which would stop the Clean Power Plan in its tracks. The so-called “Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act” would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to finally limit carbon pollution from power plants. Though it was introduced in May, it's not clear yet what Senator Portman will do.
Further, Congress also has a key role to play in providing funding for all Environmental Protection Agency programs, and Senator Portman can show his support for the Clean Power Plan in the future by ensuring that the resources necessary for it are secured in full.
It’s time Senator Portman started putting people ahead of polluters. There’s ample opportunities, and he’s still got time to seize them.
[1] Center for Responsive Politics