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AAA opposes air quality standards in PA
by Arthur Stamoulis
Wednesday, Mar. 01, 2006 at 11:51 AM
astamoulis@cleanair.org
The auto club AAA is lobbying against the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program. Learn how this impacts air quality, gasoline costs and consumer choice at: www.cleanair.org/AAAMonkeys
Pittsburgh, PA — A new Flash movie called “The AAA Monkeys” that rips into the popular automobile club AAA for its opposition to the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program was released online today at http://www.cleanair.org. The humorous web animation portrays AAA as a group of mischievous monkeys who “See No Evil” when their antics burden people with high gasoline costs, limited consumer choice and dirty air.
“AAA needs to stop monkeying around with air quality, gas costs and consumer choice,” said Arthur Stamoulis, Director of Government Affairs for Clean Air Council, the statewide environmental organization that released the Flash presentation. “The Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program will reduce air pollution from cars and trucks, while improving gas mileage and expanding hybrid options available to consumers. AAA’s opposition to the Clean Vehicles Program is a slap in the face to Pennsylvanians concerned about poor air quality and high gasoline prices.”
For the past several months, AAA’s Mid-Atlantic office has engaged in a lobbying and media outreach campaign in support of HB 2141, legislation in the Pennsylvania House that would block implementation of the Clean Vehicles Program. This legislation has been opposed by Clean Air Council, the American Lung Association, the Pennsylvania Public Health Association, the Pennsylvania Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania PTA, Citizens for Consumer Justice and many others.
“Most AAA members sign up for the roadside assistance and other benefits. If they knew that AAA was lobbying against air quality programs, they would be outraged,” said Stamoulis. “We hope this animation will help inform AAA members that the auto club is supporting anti-environmental, anti-consumer legislation in their names.”
Clean Air Council’s website encourages people to contact AAA asking them to drop their opposition to the Clean Vehicles Program. It also contains facts correcting the misinformation that AAA has spread about the policy. For more information, visit: http://www.cleanair.org/AAAMonkeys
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