More Pollution of the Climate Debate

An investigation has identified more faked letters sent to Congress as part of a deceptive campaign waged by the public relations firm Bonner & Associates, on behalf of the industry front group American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE). The letters, which oppose the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill, were sent to at least three members of Congress, using the names and letterheads of local advocacy groups. The five newly-confirmed faked letters were all made to look like they came from senior citizen groups. One sent to Representative Tom Perriello reads, "Many seniors, as you know, are on low fixed incomes. The cost to heat and cool our homes, run hot water and use other appliances is very important to those on a budget." Representative Ed Markey, the co-author of the climate bill, is investigating the faked letters. The investigation has identified 58 letters sent to Congress by the Bonner firm, though only 13 have so far been confirmed as forgeries. Markey denounced the letters as "fraud-mongering with senior citizens on clean energy."