Green group targets ‘polluter’ money in elections

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is targeting campaign money from pro-fossil fuel entities in a new campaign.

On Friday the environmental group said it’s national and California wing will pressure members of Congress to co-sponsor legislation that would provide more transparency around the money being contributed to campaigns. It will also launch a “grassroots” movement to raise awareness about money coming from companies they say contribute to pollution in the U.S.

{mosads}The LCV claims the consequences of unlimited contributions to fossil-fuel interests is especially dire “at a time of record climate change impacts nationwide.”

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United ruling opened the door for polluters to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections,” said Gene Karpinski, League of Conservation Voters president. “It’s time to fight the tidal wave of corrupt polluter cash that’s flooding into elections nationwide.”

The group’s campaign will include print, radio, outdoor and online ads in California.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a staunch environmental advocate in the House, said oil and coal groups have “funded climate denial” and pushing the legislation would help reign in wealthy donors.

The bill LCV hopes lawmakers will rally behind would set new campaign finance laws that limit the influence of corporations, but it’s unlikely to gain traction in the Republican-controlled House.