ADWATCH
Energy interests
Sponsor: National Republican Congressional Committee
Type: TV ad
Message: 7th Congressional District Democratic candidate Ed Perlmutter has said he wants to push renewable energy, but he really is in the pocket of energy interests because he pushed state legislation that critics viewed as “kowtowing” to energy interests. He also has a $100,000 investment in an energy firm.
Fact: As a state senator in 2002, Perlmutter sponsored Senate Bill 141, which would have allowed companies that retrieve gas and oil from land owned by others to charge them production costs. The legislation never passed. He holds a 25 percent interest in Elk Petroleum, estimated on his asset disclosure forms to be worth between $50,000 and $100,000. Perlmutter has received $14,906 in campaign contributions from energy interests based on campaign finance records analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group. His Republican opponent, Rick O’Donnell, has received $94,150 in campaign contributions from energy interests, according to the center.
– Christopher N. Osher
