Endorsement: Russ Feingold for Congress

Endorsement comes as Feingold’s opponent publicly denies science of climate change

August 19, 2010

MADISON — On behalf of its 5,000 members across the state, Clean Wisconsin Action Fund proudly announced its endorsement today of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold in his bid for re-election.

“Senator Feingold has amassed an outstanding record as a strong environmental leader since the day he stepped into public office,” said Gary Goyke, board chair of the Clean Wisconsin Action Fund. “He understands that a clean environment and natural resource protection go hand-in-hand with a strong economy and job creation.”

Clean Wisconsin Action Fund’s Endorsement of Feingold falls two days after his opponent, Ron Johnson, publicly denied the science of man-made climate change in the state’s largest newspaper.

“I absolutely do not believe in the science of man-made climate change,” Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an article printed Tuesday. According to the paper, he later “described believers in manmade causes of climate change as ‘crazy’ and the theory as ‘lunacy.’”

“Ron Johnson’s comments suggest that he feels that a majority of Wisconsin voters – those who believe in man-made climate change – are crazy,” said Goyke. “This is an extremist view that ignores overwhelming scientific evidence and insults the intelligence of Wisconsin voters.”

The senate campaign battle has heated up in recent weeks with Johnson airing deceptive television ads attacking Feingold’s commitment to the Great Lakes, despite Feingold’s outstanding record supporting Great Lakes and water protections. As Senator, Feingold played an instrumental role in passing the Great Lakes Compact, a historic agreement between eight states and two Canadian provinces to not divert water out of the Great Lakes basin.

“Senator Feingold’s invaluable leadership in passing the Great Lakes Compact highlights his passion for protecting the Great Lakes,” said Goyke. “This pivotal bill could not have been passed so quickly and with so much bipartisan support without his strong leadership.”

“Wisconsin voters will be offered a clear choice in the senate elections this fall,” said Goyke. “A vote for Feingold is a vote to protect the Great Lakes and move Wisconsin forward into a clean energy economy.”