News Room > Press Releases

February 22, 2001

Contacts
Mark Helm, Friends of the Earth
(202) 783-7400 x102
Keith Ashdown, Taxpayers for Common Sense
(202) 546-8500 x110
Liz Hitchcock, U.S. Public Interest Research Group
(202) 546-9707

Washington, D.C. - Congress and the Bush Administration can save taxpayers more than $55 billion by cutting federal programs that harm the environment and waste money, according to a report released today by a coalition of environmental, taxpayer and consumer groups. As the new administration prepares to release its budget, the Green Scissors 2001 report shows, that of 74 targeted programs, eliminating the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, run by the Department of Energy, could save taxpayers a $1.65 billion.

"President Bush wants to give taxpayers a break-well, here's a $1.65 billion start that also protects the environment," said Erich Pica, Director of the Green Scissors Campaign at Friends of the Earth. "This is the president's opportunity to take green scissors to the federal budget."

The Green Scissors 2001 report identified the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles as a "Choice Cut" targeted for congressional action. Over the past eight years, the federal government has spent more than $1 billion on this program to create a "super-efficient" car, yet average fuel economy for automobiles has declined to the lowest point in 20 years.

"After $1 billion dollars and poor results, PNGV is clearly a lemon. We need a taxpayer recall on this one," said Cena Swisher of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "For taxpayers this project is unsafe at any price."

Last year, the House of Representatives voted to kill the PNGV program. Unfortunately, the proponents of PNGV managed to save the program and secure more funding. Now the Green Scissors group calls on the leadership of Secretary of Energy Abraham and Chief of Staff Andrew Card, both veterans of automobile industry politics, to eliminate PNGV permanently.

"Congress and the Bush Administration should do some early spring cleaning, and clear the federal budget of dirty, wasteful programs like the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles," said Lexi Shultz, a staff attorney for U.S.PIRG.

Over the past seven years, the Green Scissors campaign has cut $24 billion in wasteful, environmentally harmful spending programs.

Local Green Scissors coalition members are releasing the report in 27 states. These groups provide support for the Green Scissors Campaign throughout the year. For a copy of the report, contact Erich Pica at 202-783-7400 x229, or visit http//www.greenscissors.org.