In the wake of extensive press coverage of a private golf-and-fundraising junket for 15 Republican members of Congress, Bush Administration officials and energy industry executives this week, five lawmakers pulled out of the event at a posh Phoenix resort.
The event included sessions for industry, lawmakers and Administration officials to write a "Top Ten To-Do List" for the upcoming congressional session and discuss rewriting environmental legislation and federal energy policy. (See the Wednesday, Jan. 7, Bushgreenwatch.)
Thursday's keynote speech, by Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles, was interrupted by environmental activists.
Two activists attempted to hand the former industry lobbyist a "check" for $1.1 million, the amount Griles is being paid by his former energy lobbying firm after leaving to take the Interior Department post in 2001. Griles is under investigation for possible ethics violations by the Interior Department inspector general for participating in government meetings with former clients while in his federal position.[1]
"This $1.1 million is a clear example of how the Bush Administration is turning over the public lands of the American people to corporate interests for profit and plunder," the activists from PressurePoint said. They were quickly escorted off the property of the Biltmore Hotel.
Members of Congress who were scheduled to attend the "Western Business Roundtable", but canceled included Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyoming), chair of the House Energy and Resources Subcommittee and the recipient of $43,664 in contributions from participants at the event.[2] Other scheduled lawmakers who had confirmed their attendance but then canceled were Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colorado), Rep. John Porter (R-Nevada), Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) and Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Arizona).
Among those who didn't cancel were Sen. Pete Domenici, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resouces Committee, and Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Arizona).
Many of the industry executives attending the Phoenix event were former clients of Griles, who was one of the highest paid and most influential lobbyists for the oil, gas and mining industries before his appointment by President Bush. Former Griles clients include Arch Coal, the American Gas Association and the National Mining Association -- all of whom were represented by senior executives at the Roundtable conference.
A coalition of environmental groups also held a press conference at the Biltmore yesterday to provide their own Top Ten To-Do list for Congress.[3]
The Phoenix junket was organized by Jim Sims, former communications director for Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force and now head of the Western Business Roundtable.
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SOURCES:
[1] "Group Seek Probe of Bush Judge Nominee," Associated Press,
Aug. 5, 2003.
[2] Campaign to Protect America's Lands Contribution Table
[3] Friends of the Earth press release, Jan. 8, 2004.
