WASHINGTON, D.C. — If Congress wants to make a significant step toward cutting spending, it need look no further than the hundreds of billions of dollars that could be saved by ending wasteful and environmentally harmful subsidies, according to a new report being released during a phone-based news conference at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday (August 24, 2011).
The new “Green Scissors” report brings together an unusual alliance of conservative, taxpayer, consumer, and environmental groups united behind one message: The place to start trimming government spending is where Congress is putting money into the pockets of polluters.
Green Scissors 2011 is being released by four organizations: progressive environmental group Friends of the Earth, deficit hawk Taxpayers for Common Sense, consumer watchdog Public Citizen, and free-market think tank The Heartland Institute.
News event speakers will be:
* Heartland Institute Vice President Eli Lehrer;
* Taxpayers for Common Sense President Ryan Alexander;
* Public Citizen Energy Program Director Tyson Slocum;
* Friends of the Earth Climate and Energy Tax Analyst Ben Schreiber;
* Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR); and
* Former Representative Robert Inglis (R-SC).
TO PARTICIPATE: You can join this live, phone-based news conference (with full, two-way Q&A) at 11 a.m. EDT on August 24, 2011 by dialing 1 (800) 860-2442. Ask for the “Green Scissors report” news event.
CAN’T PARTICIPATE?: A streaming audio replay of the news event will be available on the Web at http://www.greenscissors.com as of 5 p.m. EDT on August 24, 2011.
CONTACT: Ailis Aaron Wolf, (703) 276-3265 or [email protected]; Kelly Trout, (202) 222-0722 or [email protected]; Steve Ellis, (202) 546-8500 ext. 126 or [email protected]; Dorry Samuels, (202) 588-7742 or [email protected]; and Eli Lehrer, (202) 615-0586 or [email protected].
