FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2006

CONTACT:  Cindy Hoffman 202/772-3255

 

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund Pounces on Pombo With New Radio Ads

Organization releases new ads decrying Rep. Richard Pombo’s (R-CA) effort to sell off national parks and do the bidding of special interests

 

Washington , D.C. – Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today released the first in a month long series of radio ads targeting Rep. Richard Pombo for his anti-environmental legislation and strong ties to special interest groups. This media buy will run in Stockton , the heart of the congressman’s district.

 

The 60 second advertisement, titled “Open Season,” criticizes Pombo’s efforts to sell 15 national parks, park naming rights and thousands of acres of public land to the mining industry. The ad says in part, “Pombo even wanted the National Park Service to raise millions of dollars by selling naming rights to the highest bidder. Imagine tourist attractions in Yosemite being renamed after Exxon or Chevron.”

 

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund launched its campaign in response to numerous anti-environmental proposals from Rep. Pombo, including bills to weaken the Endangered Species Act, sell off our country’s national parks, and make it easy for irresponsible developers and special interests including oil and gas, timber and mining to gain unrestricted access to some of America’s last havens for wildlife.

 

“What Pombo has been trying to do totally undermines the obligation we have to preserve our wildlife and public lands for future generations,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. “He has put some of America ’s most significant historical sites up for auction to his special interest cronies. Even the Bay area’s very own Eugene O’Neill National Historic site was included on his list of places he thought were expendable. Rep. Pombo isn’t thinking about natural or historical significance, the good of the national parks, or even his constituents, he’s thinking about his big corporate campaign contributors.”

 

The ad concludes by pointing out that Pombo was named one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and urges listeners to visit www.PomboInTheirPocket.org, a site launched by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund to expose Richard Pombo’s ties to the special interests.

 

Listen to the ad at www.pombointheirpocket.org.

 

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