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SW: →ACCCE lobbying firm forges letters to U.S. Congressman: Miller testifies
Congressman [[Ed Markey]], the co-author of the [[Waxman-Markey Climate Bill]] and the Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, opened an investigation into the faked letters. He wrote the lobbying firm's founder, [[Jack Bonner]], "asking a dozen lengthy questions about the letters," reported the ''New York Times'', including "who hired it to lobby on their behalf, how much it was paid, in which congressional districts it operates in, the extent of its activities in those districts as well as information about the employee that was responsible for the mailing of the letters." Markey gave Bonner August 12, 2009 as the deadline to respond. <ref name="NYTlet"/> The [[Sierra Club]] asked Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] to open a separate [[Justice Department]] investigation into the matter. <ref>Alex Kaplun, "[http://www.eenews.net/public/eenewspm/2009/08/03/7 Sierra Club asks DOJ to investigate forged climate letters]," ''E&ENews PM'', August 3, 2009.</ref>
====Head of ACCCE testifies before Congress====
On October 30, 2009, ACCCE president and CEO Joe Miller testified before the House Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee about the forged letters sent by subcontractor [[Bonner & Associates]]. In his testimony, Miller claimed that his organization had never opposed the [[Waxman-Markey Climate Bill]]. However, an official June 2009 press release specifically said, "ACCCE cannot support this bill, as it is written, because the legislation still does not adequately protect consumers and the domestic economy or ensure that the American people can continue to enjoy the benefits of affordable, reliable electricity, which has been so important to our nation."<ref name="del">Arthur Delaney, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/pro-coal-lobby-boss-claim_n_338794.html "Pro-Coal Lobby Boss Claims Never To Have Opposed Climate Bill," Huffington Post, October 29, 2009.</ref> Miller also said that ACCCE has only lobbied Congress since April 2008, despite extensive records of the group's lobbying efforts for many years prior to that. The comments have sparked accusations that Miller lied under oath and suggestions that the Justice Department may open a criminal perjury probe.<ref>Zachary Roth, [http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/could_coal_lobby_chief_be_probed_for_perjury.php "Could Coal Lobby Chief Be Probed For Perjury?,"] TPMMuckraker, October 29, 2009.</ref><ref name="del"/>
===ACCCE launches $1 million campaign to lobby Senate Democrats===