|
Sierra Club, Ozark
Chapter |
Return to political committee main page |
Today we are proud to announce the Sierra Club’s endorsement of John Kerry for President of the United States.
This year the choice for President cannot be more clear. We are faced with a choice between the most anti-environmental President ever and a true friend who would bring to the office a dedication to improving all issues facing the environment.
The last four years have been a disaster for the environment: an outright assault on 30 years of environmental progress, selection of staunchly anti-environmental judges, backroom deals with polluting industries – the list goes on. It is time for a true environmentalist in the White House.
A fact sheet that outlines John Kerry’s record on the environment is on the next page. We urge you to read it carefully so that you might understand and be able to express to others that Senator John Kerry’s environmental record is truly outstanding.
On basically every issue John Kerry has long been in agreement with the Club. By any objective evaluation of the issues, Senator Kerry has been with us, and with the environment, more than 95% of the time over his long career. His is a long, consistent record of environmental advocacy. In fact, John Kerry has the highest lifetime rating of any nominee ever from a major party—it is not even close.
Our Political Committee’s interview team grilled all seven of the Democratic contenders who returned the Sierra Club’s questionnaire in personal interview sessions lasting 90 minutes. (President Bush did not return his questionnaire). Senator Kerry and the Committee discussed trade policy, energy, sprawl, forest policy. Senator Kerry had an amazing command of the issues and gave sharp, in-depth answers to every question. At the end of the interview the team was unanimous it its conclusion, “this guy really gets it, he would make a great environmental President.”
The SCPC Presidential Committee, chaired by Joan Willey of Maryland, will be running an in-depth campaign to help elect John Kerry. Please contact your local chapter Political Chair or political.desk@sierraclub.org for more information.
For an in-depth look at John Kerry’s Platform, please go to
http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/long_enviro.pdf.
To volunteer directly with the Kerry campaign, please go to
http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/enviros.php.
We urge you to get involved in this campaign to elect John Kerry, a friend, to the White House. Wouldn’t that be a nice change?.
Ken Jacob Endorsed for Lt. Governor
by Chris Hayday, Ozark Chapter Political Chair
For the August primary for Lt. Governor, the Ozark Chapter has endorsed Senator Ken Jacob. He has been endorsed by the Ozark Chapter countless times before and has always been one of our greatest assets in Jefferson City. The Sierra Club has twice named him our outstanding legislator, he has consistently voted above 90% on environmental issues, and last session he single-handedly stopped the Environmental Destruction Act, SB36. Put another way, without Ken Jacob SB36 would be law.
Senator Jacob was elected minority leader in November of 2002. His colleagues elected him knowing that Senator Jacob would bring a fresh leadership style to the job, which was necessary due to the complete Republican control of the General Assembly. Senator Jacob used his role as minority leader to slow down and more often than not stop every piece of legislation aimed at the reducing environmental protections, as well as eliminating legal protections for working men and women, and reducing health care benefits to children.
The Lt. Governor does not have a true agenda but often engages in campaigns that greatly influence what the state does. For example, current Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell pushed the state to better serve veterans and seniors. As Lt. Governor, Ken could advance an environmental agenda away from the legislature and greatly influence state environmental policies. Further, the senate is likely to be near 50-50 meaning that the Lt. Governor could be called upon to cast a deciding vote. The Lt. Governor also presides over the senate on a daily basis, ruling on points of order. From this position, Ken can greatly assist other allies in the senate.
We need someone who shares our positions on issues in this job. But just as importantly we need someone with the experience to use the Lt. Governor’s office to its full capacity. Ken has the experience necessary to preside over what will inevitably be a cantankerous and very hungry Republican majority in the Senate. This more than any other reason is why Ken is the best candidate for Lt. Governor..