A public-interest group is taking Rep. Howard Nielson, R-Utah, to task for accepting more than $45,000 from industries opposing a strong Clean Air Act, then failing to support amendments to strengthen the act.
But J. Morgan Young, Nielson's press secretary in Washington, said that the congressman is working for a good, workable Clean Air Act."The congressman will reserve the right to answer those (allegations) in the future, but at the moment, what we're trying to do is report his actions and activities on the Clean Air Bill and not worry about these critics," Young said.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group released a statement Tuesday that criticizes Nielson for taking money from the industry that public action committees money during the period between 1981 to 1988.
"We are disappointed that Rep. Nielson failed to support measures that would make significant improvements in the air quality in Utah and across the country," said Alexandra Allen, staff attorney for the group, based in Washington, D.C.
"We urge him during further consideration of the Clean Air Act to ignore the campaign contributions of industries opposing clean air laws, and support measures that offer real promise of protecting public health and the environment."
Candidates for House and Senate seats accepted a total of $23 million from PACS connected to sponsors that have opposed stronger clean air legislation, according to the group's study. In the period between 1987 to 1988 , 153 PACs connected to the electric utility, coal, chemical, oil, automobile and other industries gave more than $8 million.
The group reviewed votes on five crucial questions that faced members of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, of which Nielson is a member. The votes were those in which either key strengthening amendments were narrowly defeated, or in which the subcommittee passed a measure that weakened the Bush Administration's Clean Air Bill.
Nielson voted the anti-environmental way in all five areas, says the study.
Young said that after the Utah Clean Air Coalition issued an attack on Nielson's performance concerning the bill, the congressman issued a statement responding. "That didn't do anything but provide the Clean Air Coalition with a forum," he said.
"So we're just not going to get involved in that kind of a street fight. The congressman has worked very hard in attempting to provide the nation with a good, workable, comprehensive, Clean Air Bill."
Nielson has attempted to break a deadlock that has existed in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee for 12 years over these issues, Young said. "Much of the problem has come from extreme environmentalist groups that have been unwilling to bend to provide something to clean up the air."
The full committee is the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Nielson is on two of its subcommittees that deal with amendments to the Clean Air Act, the Health and Environment Subcommittee and the Energy and Power Subcommittee.
"He plays a very positive role," Young said.
But Allen said the Health Subcommittee reported a dangerous bill out for the full committee to consider.
"As reported . . . (it) condemns some 40 million Americans to breathe unhealthy air for another 20 years, fails to protect public from toxic air pollution, lacks a serious program for the prevention of chemical accidents, and does not go far enough, quickly enough, to stop acid rain," she said.