Published: May 10, 2008 01:00 am            

Greenpeace targets Hill with billboards blasting his environmental votes

Ninth District Rep. Baron Hill, D-Seymour, was surprised to see billboards popping up around Southern Indiana, which challenge his record on the environment.

According to the organization Greenpeace USA, the billboards are meant to call attention to Hill’s record of support for weak fuel economy efficiency standards, the coal industry and his inaction on global warming legislation.

Hill disagrees, saying he was the primary author on fuel efficiency standards that passed in Congress.

“They’re wrong. I’ve got a strong record on the environment,” Hill said.

House bill 2927 is the piece of legislation Edyta Sitko, global warming field organizer for Greenpeace, has called into question.

The bill Hill authored last year called for what Sitko describes as a “modest” fuel economy target of 32 miles-per-gallon by 2022. Congress would go on to pass a law that guaranteed 35 mpg by 2020.

From coal to fuel, Sitko said the issues come back to global warming.

“The time has come for Southern Indiana to take a strong look at Rep. Hill’s record,” Sitko said. “While the public is calling for action on global warming, Hill is bucking his party’s leadership and siding with those in Congress that are intent on denying the inevitable.”

Hill said he finds Greenpeace’s stance “puzzling,” saying it was his understanding the organization was satisfied with the final passage of the fuel economy target bill last year.

Hill added he is on the cusp of securing endorsements from several economic organizations in his bid to return to Congress in November, including the League of Conservation and the Sierra Club. Hill is running against Republican candidate Mike Sodrel on New Albany, who secured his party’s nomination in an uncontested primary on Tuesday.

Libertarian Eric Schansberg is also running for the 9th District seat.

Hill sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which he said has plans to move forward with environmental issues after the November election.

“We’re probably not going to do anything this year on global warming. After the next Congress is elected, starting in January, we’re going to work on a bill addressing the issue of global warming,” Hill said.

Yet Sitko feels each day that passes is a loss that impacts the environment, therefore the organization went ahead with the three billboards, two of which are along Interstate 65.

One is located between Jeffersonville and Clarksville near Interstate 265 and the other between Seymour and Columbus on I-65. There is also a billboard along Ind. 50 near North Vernon.

“We need to protect Hoosier farmers and families right now,” Sitko said. “Indiana is already effected by global warming with longer and more intense heat waves and droughts that are causing Hoosier farmers millions in expensive irrigation.”

In February, Hill backed a bill that passed the House calling for the repeal of roughly $18 billion in manufacturing tax credits for oil and gas companies, while increasing tax credits for renewable energy programs.

Hill explained his endorsement by saying the bill would hopefully lower gasoline prices and help the environment.

“Ending our dependence on foreign oil and using renewable energy to help fight global warming will make our nation stronger,” Hill said.

        

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