“This is not an environmental disaster, and I will say that again and again.”
– Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) speaking about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Yup, you read that correctly.

In an outrageous quote worthy of Sarah Palin’s Facebook page, Republican Congressman Don Young of Alaska, who happens to be one of Big Oil’s best friends in Congress, actually said this with a straight face.

This is exactly the sort of Big Oil cheerleading mentality that ‘Drill Baby Drill’ Palin and now her fellow Republican from Alaska are continuing to push, even as oil continues poisoning the Gulf. While Congressman Young might not understand the definition of “environmental” or “disaster,” you and I certainly do and we need to hold him accountable.

Set Congressman Don Young Straight. Sign our petition calling on him to stop defending Big Oil and support clean energy legislation in Congress.

In the hours since we launched our petition denouncing Don Young’s outrageous comment, already more than 24,000 of you have added your voice. Now we’ve set a goal of getting 50,000 signers and delivering your comments directly to Mr. Young.

Let’s send a deafening message to Congressman Young that we reject his outrageous protection of Big Oil and it’s time to get serious about supporting President Obama and Speaker Pelosi’s agenda for a clean energy future.

Add your voice to the fight today.

Thanks,

Jon Vogel
DCCC Executive Director

BP continues to stonewall the American people about the growing Deep Horizon disaster in the Gulf, even while the company reaps millions of dollars in profits each day from its other federal leases.

The White House, the Department of Interior, and Congress are all crying foul, but they are not taking action to hold BP accountable. If the Obama administration is serious about making BP pay, there is a very simple and powerful tool at its disposal: the EPA can take away BP’s billions in federal contracts.



Ask EPA Administration Lisa Jackson to impose “discretionary debarment” and strip BP of all federal contracts >

The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to bar BP from receiving U.S. government contracts. Suspension of BP contracts would mean the loss of billions of dollars and effectively stop the company from drilling in federally controlled oil fields both on and offshore.

This is the strongest possible action that could be taken against BP.

Discretionary debarment is among the most serious actions EPA can take. EPA’s own regulations allow the agency to ban BP from future contracts after considering “the frequency and pattern of the incidents, corporate attitude both before and after the incidents, changes in policies, procedures, and practices.”

Prior to the current Gulf spill, EPA had linked BP to at least four instances of criminal misconduct and BP has paid tens of millions in fines for environmental crimes. According to the public interest investigative journalists at Pro Publica, the EPA is considering re-evaluating BP and determining whether the company’s actions leading up to and following the Deep Horizon spill are evidence of an institutional problem inside BP that would qualify for debarment action.

Tell the EPA to take action to strip BP of all existing and future government contracts >

If BP is hit with discretionary debarment, the company would lose valuable contracts for selling fuel to the military and would be prohibited from obtaining or renewing drilling leases on federal land. It could also cancel BP’s current federal leases. The impact on BP’s bottom line could be in the billions of dollars.

Neither Congress, nor President Obama, nor Interior Secretary Salazar have taken steps to truly hold BP accountable. It’s up to EPA to use the regulatory tools at its disposal to make BP pay.

The American people are outraged by the politicians’ inaction in the face of an exponentially growing economic and environmental disaster in the Gulf. It’s time for EPA to take immediate and decisive action.

Your pressure works. Sign the petition to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today.

– The Change.org team in partnership with CREDO Action

This is me, Michael Snook

Our PCCC team helped Halter on May 18, when he did 10 points better than expected and forced a run-off.

Stephanie Taylor, me, Aaron Swartz, Keauna Gregory, and Adam Green

Call Halter supporters this weekend!

Hi, it’s Michael. Bill Halter is only 4 days away from defeating Blanche Lincoln and the mood here in Arkansas is upbeat.

We’ve spent the last two months identifying thousands of Halter supporters – now we need your help to get them to the polls. There will never be a more critical time for you to help.

Can you make calls to Halter supporters from your home this weekend — to remind them to vote?

Yes! I can make calls Saturday.

Yes! I can make calls Sunday

No — but I can chip in $4 to the Halter campaign.

You can make calls from the comfort of your home. The calls are easy, fast, and we’ll only be calling friendly folks — previously identified Bill Halter supporters to vote.

How were these supporters identified? Well, the PCCC has helped Halter run the most cutting edge grassroots operation in Arkansas history — with members like you donating over $210,000 and local PCCC members in Arkansas knocking on thousands of doors.

When Bill Halter wins, it will send shockwaves through the political and corporate establishments. Now, let’s make it happen.

Yes! I can make calls Saturday.

Yes! I can make calls Sunday

No — but I can chip in $4 to the Halter campaign.

Together, we can make history. Thanks for being a bold progressive.

–Michael Snook, Keauna Gregory, Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Aaron Swartz, and the PCCC team