Billionaire Plans To Drop Serious Cash To Pressure Lawmakers On Climate Change

[ProSense]

Billionaire Plans To Drop Serious Cash To Pressure Lawmakers On Climate Change

A retired investor plans to drop as much as $100 million on attack ads during the 2014 election to pressure lawmakers and governors to act on climate change, the New York Times reported Monday.

Tom Steyer, founder of the hedge fund Farallon Capital Management, is seeking to raise $50 million from donors to match $50 million of his own money for his political organization NextGen Climate Action, people familiar with the discussions told the Times.

The group's targets include climate change skeptics like Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). But when NextGen asked supporters this month to pick a congressional candidate for the group to run ads against, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who is a Keystone pipeline supporter, was included on the list of choices, according to the Times.

As she is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for reelection, Landrieu would be an interesting target for NextGen, which tends to aim its dollars at Republicans even if it is critical of Democrats who don't take strong stances on environmental issues. When asked whether Democratic control of the Senate would be necessary for him to move on his climate agenda, Steyer told the Times that “as long as we have this partisan divide on energy and climate, it’s got to be important.”

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/billionaire_tom_steyer_attack_ads_climate_change

[reformist2]

1. And this is how the fat cats stay in control, by making both sides jump for their money.

[TheMathieu]

2. If that's what it takes to get them moving, then so be it. nt

[CJCRANE]

3. Does this now mean that protesters need to protest to billionaires

and corporations to get things done?

[B Calm]

4. Money is considered free speech now. . .

Thanks to this sold out Supreme Court.

[djean111]

5. Hopefully, some money will get alloted to aim at Rick Scott and Rubio.

Things like this - huge money in elections - make me despair that even trying for liberal progressive candidates at a local level is useless. Between Big Money and the Third Way-controlled DNC, local gains remain just that - local. The DNC decides who to support, and they tend to support Third-Wayers unless a candidate is insanely popular, like Elizabeth Warren. Just look at how the Third Way haughtily labeled Warren as out of control or whatever.

All comes down to money, and I find it disgusting that progressives are shut out simply because they can easily and legally be outspent - and then be airily (and sneeringly) told that we should try harder at the local level. Past a certain level, the Third Way takes over if it can, and usually does.

IMO and all that.

[drm604]

6. I'm uncomfortable with billionaires battling over the future of this country (actually, this planet)

but, given the current legal situation regarding campaign spending, I suppose that it's good to have someone balancing out what the Koch's are doing.

[ProSense]

7. Yes, it's disturbing.

"but, given the current legal situation regarding campaign spending, I suppose that it's good to have someone balancing out what the Koch's are doing."

Congress really needs to address Citizens United. A battle between billionaires is not what a democracy is about.