Van Jones & Sherrod Brown—what do they have in common?

The Apollo Alliance!

Mr. Jones was a long-time board member and Mr. Brown has this organization’s support for his proposed legislation called “Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act.

We recently wrote to Mr. Brown asking him to vote “NO” on the Cap & Trade Legislation; this is his reply:

Thank you for sharing your views about clean energy legislation.

Effective clean energy legislation will reduce climate pollution and promote the production of renewable energy—but most importantly it will ensure the creation of new clean energy jobs and industries. Clean energy legislation must also ensure the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and protect consumers by keeping utility rates affordable. We must work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by making America a global leader in clean energy manufacturing.

For this reason, I recently announced legislation called the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act. This legislation, which was included in the House energy bill, would support manufacturers' transition to the clean energy economy and ensure clean energy jobs are created here in the U.S. This legislation would create a revolving loan fund for small and medium size manufacturers to retool and expand facilities to produce clean energy technology and energy efficient products. It is estimated this measure will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

I appreciate hearing your input on this important topic. As clean energy legislation continues to be discussed in Congress, I will work to ensure that an unfair burden is not placed on Ohio families and businesses. I will only support legislation that creates new jobs and economic opportunities across Ohio.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

In other words, reading between the lines, he’s voting “yes” on Cap & Trade!

Incidentally, at the time Mr. Brown announced this legislation (June 17, 2009—how’d we miss this one OHIO???), his Senatorial website proclaimed:

"Brown Announces New Bill Providing $30 Billion in Funds to Help Auto Suppliers, Manufacturers Retool for Clean Energy Jobs"

"In Anticipation of Comprehensive Energy and Climate Legislation, Senator Joins Business, Environmental Leader to Announce Plan to Respond to Industry Credit Crisis, Invest in Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing"

“Brown was joined today by clean energy, business, and labor leaders in announcing this initiative. The IMPACT Act is supported by the Apollo Alliance, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Blue Green Alliance, Campaign for America’s Future, Environmental Defense Fund, High Road Strategies, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, MAPA Group, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Policy Matters Ohio & Ohio Apollo, Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), Shepherd Advisors, Solar Energy Industries Association, United Steelworkers, and United Automobile Workers.”

“The only way to put our existing manufacturing sector to work and to scale up to meet the new demand created by the cap-and-trade program is to have a dedicated source of funding for investments in component manufacturing,” Phil Angelides, Chairman of the Apollo Alliance said. “We are proud to support Sen. Brown’s bill, which will allow manufacturers across the country to tap into clean and efficient energy markets.”

On the same day, the Apollo Alliance website announced:

“Apollo Alliance Joins Sen. Sherrod Brown to Introduce Bill to Help Manufacturers Retool for Clean Energy Economy”

Then, as recently as September 22, 2009, the Apollo Alliance Daily Digest stated:

“Senator Sherrod Brown (D. - Ohio) wants to add money for clean energy manufacturing to the climate bill. Senator Brown’s IMPACT ACT - a plan to implement a $30 billion dollar revolving loan fund to strengthen green manufacturing - was influenced by the Apollo Alliance’s GreenMAP.”

We have a few questions for Mr. Brown. First, though, allow us to refresh your memory.

The Apollo Alliance helped draft the stimulus package that was passed earlier this year.

Harry Reid has even thanked The Apollo Alliance for helping with the final bill.

On their own website, The Apollo Alliance states, “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – Opportunities for Cities and States is a memo prepared by Apollo’s research associate, Elena Foshay, that begins to answer some critical implementation questions. The memo summarizes the clean energy, good job elements, answers a few frequently asked questions and discusses strategies for state and local leaders to implement.”

Question: Is it a coincidence then that Mr. Brown, who cast the deciding vote to pass the Stimulus,

(“The bill passed the Senate late Friday night with a vote of 60-38 after Democratic leadership held the vote open for several hours to allow one member, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, to return to Washington to cast the deciding vote)

is now working with the “architects” of that monstrosity on more legislation?


Enter SEIU and Mr. Gerald Hudson, International Executive Vice President, SEIU.

Mr. Hudson is on The Apollo Alliance Board of Directors.

Mr. Brown has a daughter that works for SEIU (sorry to drag her into this, it’s not about her).

Mr. Brown has, over his career, received $40,750 in campaign contributions from SEIU.

Question: Mr. Brown, have you sold Ohio’s vote on (more than one piece of legislation) the Cap & Trade legislation for Apollo’s verbal and financial support?

In our opinion, there seems to be an extreme conflict of interest here, Mr. Brown--do you represent Ohio or The Apollo Alliance and SEIU?

"“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”--Sir Walter Scott

Looks like Mr. Brown has some explaining to do!

P.S. Think any of Ohio's news outlets will look into this?



http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=9F3064D8-3F11-4FC5-9E3D-5FE77E102B8C

http://apolloalliance.org/press-releases-2009/apollo-alliance-joins-sen-sherrod-brown-to-introduce-bill-to-help-manufacturers-retool-for-clean-energy-economy/

http://apolloalliance.org/digest/?tag=sherrod-brown

http://apolloalliance.org/feature-articles/states-cities-and-the-stimulus-package/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/13/congress-readies-final-vote-b-stimulus/