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Big Business to 'Swarm' DC to Back Climate Bill

Bucking conventional wisdom, eBay, Gap, others push for action

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 5, 2009 12:58 PM CDT
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(Newser) – More than 150 business leaders plan to “swarm” Capitol Hill over the next two days in support of climate change legislation. Hailing from such disparate companies as eBay, the Gap, and PG&E, the executives say having a law in place would give them confidence in their long-term planning, and could actually help the overall economy, Politico reports.

Separately, 28 companies, including Johnson & Johnson, United Technologies, and GE, are launching a million dollar advertising campaign to support the legislation. “I just want a chance to get a clear signal from our government,” says the CEO of Timberland, “and I’ll get around to innovating in order to profit.” Nike says it’s concluded that the legislation will create jobs, and that, in backing it, the company will beef up its appeal among America's issue-minded youth. “All the studies we’ve looked at say this is going to help.”

In this April 22, 2009 file photo, eBay's offices in San Jose, Calif. are shown. EBay is among the more than 150 companies heading to Washington to support cap and trade legislation.
In this April 22, 2009 file photo, eBay's offices in San Jose, Calif. are shown. EBay is among the more than 150 companies heading to Washington to support cap and trade legislation.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
John Rowe, chairman and CEO of Exelon Corp., addresses a town hall meeting at the National Summit in Detroit, Monday, June 15, 2009.
John Rowe, chairman and CEO of Exelon Corp., addresses a town hall meeting at the National Summit in Detroit, Monday, June 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
More than 150 business leaders plan to head to Washington to support cap-and-trade legislation.
More than 150 business leaders plan to head to Washington to support cap-and-trade legislation.   (Getty Images)
A customer shops at a Gap store in Palo Alto, Calif., in this May 23, 2007 file photo.
A customer shops at a Gap store in Palo Alto, Calif., in this May 23, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Snowleopard
Oct 6, 2009 12:06 PM CDT
all these companies must be secretly communist, and wanting to destroy america, right?
Snowleopard
Oct 6, 2009 12:05 PM CDT
god, what a moron. listen to yourself tim. do you really believe that all these companies would be in favor of CO2 reductions if they weren't sincerely convinced that it was a real issue? When are you going to admit that you're hiding from the truth?
cornelison
Oct 5, 2009 7:42 AM CDT
As usual, the GOP will be against any climate bill in Congress. On the other hand I smell lobbying money to both parties. It's never logical, is it.

 
eBay • cap and trade • General Electric • Nike • United Technologies • climate change legislation • big business • Gap

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