The NRDC Action Fund kicks off a radio issue ad campaign today highlighting a vote by Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) in support of a key Congressional Review Act resolution that would repeal essential clean water protections. The issue ads running in Illinois highlight the Senator’s recent vote to kill the Clean Water Rule, which restores protections for streams, wetlands and headwaters that flow into the Great Lakes and drinking water supplies.
“For a politician so quick to crow about Great Lakes stewardship, Senator Kirk’s Congressional Review Act vote is utterly shocking. His vote would repeal the Clean Water Rule and allow pollution of streams and wetlands that flow into Lake Michigan,“ said NRDC Action Fund Midwest Director Henry Henderson. “We were excited last month to congratulate Senator Kirk on his recent climate change vote, but this anti-Clean Water vote is a significant environmental misstep, putting polluters before people and threatening water quality in the Great Lakes.”
The NRDC Action Fund has previously run issue ads, both positive and negative, around other votes cast by Senator Kirk on environmental issues. The week before last, the Action Fund ran digital ads thanking Senator Kirk for going against his party to vote in support of the Clean Power Plan to cut dangerous carbon emissions from the nation’s power plants.
But the Action Fund has been strongly critical of Senator Kirk’s repeated votes against clean water. He has voted to slash funding for clean water infrastructure and has voted on repeatedly to block the implementation of the Clean Water Rule. For example, the day before voting for the Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the Clean Water Rule, he also voted for a separate bill that would torpedo the Clean Water Rule.
The ad buy will run on numerous Chicago and Springfield radio stations through the end of the week.
More information:
- NRDC Senior Attorney Jon Devine’s blog post on recent Senate votes on clean water
- NRDC Action Fund Midwest Director Henry Henderson’s blog on the Clean Water Rule and the Great Lakes
AD SCRIPT:
“CHANGED”
:60 for Radio
NRDC Action Fund
SFX:
Sounds of silverware and plates over dinner.
MAN:
Did you hear the latest about Senator Mark Kirk?
WOMAN:
What did he do?
MAN:
You’re not going to believe this–He voted against protections for clean water.
WOMAN:
Are you serious?! He voted against that Clean Water Rule?
MAN:
Yeah – Senator Kirk voted to make it tougher to prevent pollution from getting into the water we rely on for fishing, swimming, and drinking water.
WOMAN:
Allowing pollution in the rivers and streams that feed the Great Lakes? Why would we EVER expose our kids to that stuff?
MAN:
I remember when Mark Kirk used to stand up for the Great Lakes and our environment.
WOMAN:
Man, that’s really disappointing.
MAN:
Yeah. It seems he listened to big polluters rather than us ordinary citizens.
WOMAN:
I’m going to call Mark Kirk’s office and tell him to stand up for our lakes and rivers —keeping our water clean should NOT be political.
ANNOUNCER:
Call Senator Mark Kirk at (202) 224-2854–tell him to protect Illinois’ drinking water.
Paid for by the NRDC Action Fund.
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The NRDC Action Fund’s mission is to build political support in the United States for protecting the planet and its people. We mobilize influential constituencies, experts, community leaders and others to directly advocate for clean air and water, public health, biodiversity, and a stable climate. We support candidates who stand up for environmental protection, and we expose those who side with polluters rather than the public good. www.nrdcactionfund.org
IMPORTANT NOTE to reporters/editors: The NRDC Action Fund is an affiliated but separate organization from the Natural Resources Defense Council. As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, the NRDC Action Fund engages in various advocacy and political activities for which the Natural Resources Defense Council, a 501(c)(3) organization, faces certain legal limitations or restrictions. News and information released by the NRDC Action Fund needs to be identified as from the “NRDC Action Fund.” The “Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund” is incorrect. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the NRDC Action Fund cannot be used interchangeably.
