Press release: CLCV Endorses Janice Hahn for Congress

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*   

Contact: Jenesse Miller, (510) 844-0235 or jmiller@ecovote.org

California League of Conservation Voters Endorses Janice Hahn for Congress

LOS ANGELES & OAKLAND, Calif. (June 9, 2011) – The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV)— the non-partisan political arm of the environmental movement in California—today announced its endorsement of Janice Hahn in the special election for Congressional District 36.

“Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn has received CLCV’s enthusiastic endorsement to become the next California member of Congress,” said CLCV Chief Executive Officer Warner Chabot. “Janice Hahn is committed to protecting the environment and public health, and to increasing clean energy job opportunities in our recovering economy.”

As a member of the Los Angeles City Council, Hahn played a crucial role in working with environmental justice and labor groups to implement the Clean Air Action Plan. Since 2006, the plan has helped reduce pollution from one of the largest sources in Southern California—the Port of Los Angeles—by nearly 50 percent.

In addition to her proven track record of fighting to reduce pollution and improve air quality, Councilwoman Hahn has focused on creating thousands of green jobs locally. Hahn’s comprehensive plan creates 25,000 green jobs by making investments in clean, alternative energy, like wind and solar. It also advocates for emergency low-interest loans and tax credits for small and green businesses so that they can grow and create new jobs.

“Janice Hahn will be an environmental leader in Congress,moving us towards a clean energy future and tackling climate change—including working to pass a national Renewable Portfolio Standard,”said CLCV Board Chair-Elect Rick Zbur.

“I’m thrilled to have the endorsement of the California League of Conservation Voters,” said Councilwoman Hahn. “Together, we agree that investing in renewable energy and clean technologies is one way to move our economy forward and help stem the tide of global climate change. As a member of Congress, I’ll focus on investing in new energy solutions that will ease our dependence on foreign oil, help spur economic growth and create new, green jobs for our district.”

In a race watched closely by political pundits nationwide, Democrat Hahn and Republican opponent Craig Huey were the top-two vote-getters in the primary held under new California election rules on May 17^th. Both candidates will now advance to the July 12 run-off, which determines who will represent the 36^th Congressional District.

Hahn’s long career of environmental leadership is in stark contrast to her opponent’s. Craig Huey has virtually no record of supporting pro-environmental programs or policies. He is a Tea Party-style hard-right candidate who was quoted by a local newspaper as saying: “I think we should do away with AB 32 [California’s landmark climate law] completely.”

During the primary campaign, when Huey was asked where he stood on environmental policy, he responded: “The courts should not be involved in legislation or regulatory decision making. The EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] policies are out of control and must be cut back and funding slashed.”

Janice Hahn is backed by a broad coalition of supporters, including a who’s-who of California environmental champions such as State Senator Ted Lieu, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S Senator Barbara Boxer, Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, and current California members of Congress Karen Bass, Henry Waxman, and Judy Chu.

About the California League of Conservation Voters:

The political muscle of the environmental movement in America’s leading environmental state, the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) is the nation’s oldest grassroots environmental political action organization. CLCV uses sophisticated campaign tools to help elect pro-environment officials – and to hold them accountable for passing legislation to protect health, communities and the environment. CLCV publishes the annual California Environmental Scorecard, which rates the actions of every state legislator and the governor on the state’s environmental priorities each legislative year. For more information about CLCV, visit www.ecovote.org.

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