PRESS RELEASE

Pearce's protection of MTBE producers put under the spotlight in new TV ad

WASHINGTON – Today Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund launched a second TV ad in New Mexico's second congressional district. The new ad introduces voters to former Congressman Steve Pearce's record on the toxic chemical Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and Pearce's efforts to prevent MTBE producers from being held liable for contaminating New Mexico's drinking water.

"Steve Pearce may be trying to reinvent himself for New Mexico voters, but his record of voting against their interests speaks volumes," commented Defenders Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen. "MTBE is so toxic that many states have put an outright ban on it. But instead of protecting New Mexico citizens, Steve Pearce voted twice to protect the companies responsible. It's outrageous."

Thankfully, Pearce's efforts to protect these companies from being sued were thwarted and many ended up settling out of court and paying a $422 million settlement. Since he was first elected in 2002, Pearce has taken over $140,000 from MTBE defendants. On one occasion he received a $1,000 check from Chevron, one of the MTBE defendants, just eight days after voting against an amendment designed to make sure that MTBE producers could be held liable.

The TV ad also revisits the unanswered question of Pearce's highly questionable handling of the sale and reporting of the sale of his company. Pearce himself had valued his company, Lea Fishing Tools, at less than $5m, but sold it to Key Energy for $12 million just six weeks after Key Energy had lobbied Pearce in a House Natural Gas Task Force hearing.

"There are many ethical questions surrounding Steve Pearce, and New Mexico voters should be aware of them before they cast their votes in November," continued Schlickeisen. "People may be sick of Washington, but re-electing this consummate politician is certainly no tonic for that sickness."

The ad, entitled "Twice", will run for at least the next two weeks.

Background:
Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund has already spent $125,000 on TV advertising in the district this year. This new ad buy matches that. In 2008, Defenders Action Fund spent $500,000 to help elect Sen. Tom Udall.

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The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.