Check for $33,000,000,000 delivered to President Bush and "Big Oil Bob" Schaffer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January  31, 2008
Michael Huttner
(303) 931-4547 cell

Denver: ProgressNowAction delivered an oversized check for $33,000,000,000 (33 billion) from Big Oil made payable to Bob Schaffer at the home in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado where President Bush is due to arrive later today for an exclusive fundraiser.

"George Bush and Bob Schaffer are for a government of Big Oil, by Big Oil, for Big Oil," stated Michael Huttner, Executive Director of ProgressNowAction at the press conference today.  "Big Oil's check for 33 billion dollars to Bob Schaffer represents the amount of tax breaks for big oil that Schaffer voted for while in Congress."

As a Congressman, Schaffer voted for over $33 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil (HR 4, vote 320, 8/2/2001)

"Thanks to George Bush and Bob Schaffer we've had skyrocketing gas prices and record profits for oil companies," stated Huttner.  The people of Colorado have had enough of lawmakers, like Schaffer, who are in the backpocket of the oil industry."

Schaffer has already taken over $80,000 dollars from the oil industry for his campaign.  Thousands more in donations are expected when his latest numbers come out as early as today.

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Below are the comments made at the Press Conference in protest of President Bush's fundraiser for Bob Schaffer to be held later today:

Thank you for joining us here today. My name is Michael Huttner and I'm the Executive Director of ProgressNowAction, with 365,000 online members we are the state's largest online progressive organization.

A former Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, in his address at Gettysburg, concluded:
"that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

And how things have changed...

President Bush will soon arrive across the street for an exclusive $5,000 couple fundraiser for Bob Schaffer who is referred to in this morning's Rocky Mountain News as "Big Oil Bob"

Why is Schaffer earning this nickname?

Just a few facts:

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the oil and gas industry was the #1 contributor to 2000 each of Schaffer's re-election campaigns for Congress.

This is Bob Schaffer who has taken over $80,000 in campaign donation from big oil. (OpenSecrets.org)

Each of you should be able to access Schaffer's latest donation disclosure reports that need to be filed tonight.

I bet there will be thousands of dollars in additional donation from the Big Oil.

After Schaffer left Congress, he went straight through the revolving door to Big Oil where I working for oil and gas firm.

Schaffer took over $156,000 as a lobbyist for the Big Oil in 2003. (AP, 6/15/2004)

And according to Schaffer's Personal Financial Disclosures, Schaffer has been paid over $900,000 as an executive for Big Oil (Schaffer Personal Financial Disclosures)

And perhaps most troubling in that as a Congressman Schaffer voted for over $33 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil (HR 4, vote 320, 8/2/2001)

That is why today we will deliver this check for $33,000,000,000 made out to Bob Schaffer from Big Oil to thank him for his help. [reveal the check]

Thanks to George Bush and Big Oil Bob Schaffer we've had skyrocketing gas prices and record profits for oil companies

It is no surprise that just last week Schaffer was named one of the most "dirty dozen" lawmakers in the country for his abysmal record on environment by the League of Conservation Voters.

In order to continue to hold Schaffer accountable we have launched a new website, www.bigoilbob.com, which will serve as a clearinghouse of information for the public on Bob Schaffer and his ties to big oil. We also launched video that is on the site as well as YouTube called Big Oil Bob that highlights these facts.

In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln would turn in his grave if he knew what became of his party. That George Bush and Bob Schaffer are for a government of Big Oil, by Big Oil, for Big Oil.