MPIRG applauds Klobuchar and Franken for voting against Sen. Paul’s dirty air initiative

MPIRG continues to encourage Minnesota’s Senators to oppose further attempts to weaken clean air standards

On Thursday, November 10, 2011 the U.S Senate defeated an extreme proposal offered by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) that would have prevented air pollution safeguards to protect millions of kids and other Americans from dangerous air pollution. Senator Paul's dirty air plan would lead to as many as 34,000 premature deaths, 15,000 heart attacks, and 400,000 asthma attacks annually.

Minnesota Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were among those who voted against this extreme anti-environment agenda. This is exactly the type of leadership we are looking for when it comes to protecting public health and the environment.

As industry lobbyists and their friends in congress continue their assault on the EPA and the Clean Air Act MPIRG strongly encourages Senators Franken and Klobuchar to stand with Minnesotans and oppose attempts to weaken health and environmental standards that protect the public and our great outdoors.