Iowa nuclear CWIP bill and money in politics, there is a connection
Mike Carberry
Thanks,
Mike
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Contact:
Mike Carberry, 319-594-6453, mi...@greenstatesolutions.com
Kelly Trout, 202-222-0722, ktr...@foe.org
Watchdog Group: Iowa Pols Should Release
Campaign Cash Info Before Nuclear Vote
Initial Info Shows Branstad, Gronstal Consistent Recipients from MidAmerican Energy
Upcoming Vote Could Make Ratepayers Pay for
Dangerous and Costly New Reactors
DES MOINES, IOWA — A watchdog group
today released campaign finance information about leading Iowa politicians
pushing for a consumer rate hike for new nuclear reactors, and called for all
Iowa politicians to reveal their ties to MidAmerican Energy before a vote on
the plan.
The data released by Friends of the Earth looks at Governor Terry Branstad (R) and State Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D), who have both been pushing for the plan to allow MidAmerican Energy to increase electric rates before nuclear reactors are even built. According to a recent poll, 77 percent of Iowans oppose the bill.
“Something is broken in Iowa politics if Governor Branstad and Senate Majority Leader Gronstal can come together and ignore what 77 percent of Iowans want,” said Mike Carberry, Iowa nuclear campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “Iowans deserve to know if this is bipartisanship – or buy-partisanship.”
Among the key findings of the analysis:
· MidAmerican Energy Company Executive PAC donated $30,000 to Governor Terry Branstad in 2010 and 2011. [IECDB Web Reporting System, accessed 2/23/12]
· Governor Branstad served on MidAmerican’s Board of Directors in 1999. [PR Newswire, 4/15/99]
· MidAmerican Energy Company has been a steady donor to State Senator Mike Gronstal.
From January of 2003 to January of 2012, MidAmerican Energy has donated $14,750 to Senator Gronstal, donating at least annually, and in some cases several times a year. [IECDB Web Reporting System, accessed 2/23/12]
In addition, The Des Moines Register reported…that MidAmerican Energy donated $70,000 to a political committee with ties to Majority Leader Michael Gronstal. [Des Moines Register, 4/18/11]
"This rate hike would set up MidAmerican for windfall profits, while strapping consumers with the financial and safety risks,” Carberry said. “We challenge all members of the Iowa legislature to reveal any campaign contributions they've received from MidAmerican Energy. Iowans deserve to know whose interests their legislators are representing."
Friends of the Earth recently ran an ad campaign in the lead-up to consideration of the bill, explaining that the state's consumers would be saddled with higher electric rates for years to come — even if the reactors never get built. The ad warns, "Investors won't take the gamble so MidAmerican wants you to foot the bill." The 30-second ad can be viewed online at: http://www.youtube.com/user/FriendsoftheEarthUS#p/u/0/BLa1J3j0R94
###
Friends of the Earth is
fighting to defend the environment and create a more healthy and just world.
Our current campaigns focus on promoting clean energy and solutions to climate
change, keeping toxic and risky technologies out of the food we eat and
products we use, and protecting marine ecosystems and the people who live and
work near them.
Mike Carberry