League of Extraordinary Environmentalists
With PAC in place, politics picks up
Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:57:00
These days, there are more greenbacks backing the green agenda in New York.
After more than 20 years advocating for environmental causes, the League of Conservation Voters has pumped up its PAC to expand its political operation.
“It’s a sea change in how we see ourselves in an organization,” said Marcia Bystryn, the group’s executive director.
Originally charged with an educational mission, the League has evolved into an important seal of approval for politicians. But the group’s support was always a paper endorsement, often mentioned on a candidate’s website or campaign mailer among a long list of other endorsements.
But to add value to the 2009 races, Bystryn said the PAC is aiming to raise at least $200,000—a huge jump from the $81,702 it had on hand at the beginning of the year.
“We need political money on the table,” Bystryn said. “We’re focusing some of our fundraising around just that.”
The League is also raising its profile by expanding into everyday issues, like energy costs and subway fare hikes, that fall outside the scope of traditional environmentalism.
New League chair Robert Hallman said he hopes fundraising will be bolstered by the group expanding its message to include sustainability, energy and green technology.
“Our approach that will make us more effective is bringing together the economy and the environment,” Hallman said. “The more people see it, the more people will support the League and our PAC.”
And League members are hoping for more opportunities like last year’s upset State Senate race that put Brian Foley (D-Suffolk) ahead of 13-term incumbent Caesar Trunzo (R). That success was no coincidence: years earlier, the League had targeted municipal seats throughout the state, including Foley’s original Brookhaven town supervisor race. When Foley announced his State Senate campaign, the League was already versed in the politics of the district and its environmental issues. That enabled it to quickly become a force in the race, pouring in $100,000 on Foley’s behalf to inundate the district with TV ads and mailers and robo-calls. Even actor Alec Baldwin cut a robo-call.
Foley’s victory was one of two races that handed Democrats control of the State Senate, though Bystryn contends that the goal was only to get Foley elected, without mind to the implications for changing the power structure of Albany. Nonetheless, she said, the League is making best of the new leverage they gained because of participation in the Foley race.
“We’re using it to the extent that we can convince the new Democratic majority that the environment is an important issue that we ought to respond to,” Bystryn said.
Hallman called the Foley race a demonstration of how the League could flex its muscle in a political campaign to shape the debate.
“It showed that the environmental movement can play the political game,” Hallman explained, “just like any other interest group, like labor and business.”
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ABOVE: League of Conservation Voters executive director Marcia Bystryn is helping pioneer the organization’s new, more political approach. Photo by Andrew Schwartz
After more than 20 years advocating for environmental causes, the League of Conservation Voters has pumped up its PAC to expand its political operation.
“It’s a sea change in how we see ourselves in an organization,” said Marcia Bystryn, the group’s executive director.
Originally charged with an educational mission, the League has evolved into an important seal of approval for politicians. But the group’s support was always a paper endorsement, often mentioned on a candidate’s website or campaign mailer among a long list of other endorsements.
But to add value to the 2009 races, Bystryn said the PAC is aiming to raise at least $200,000—a huge jump from the $81,702 it had on hand at the beginning of the year.
“We need political money on the table,” Bystryn said. “We’re focusing some of our fundraising around just that.”
The League is also raising its profile by expanding into everyday issues, like energy costs and subway fare hikes, that fall outside the scope of traditional environmentalism.
New League chair Robert Hallman said he hopes fundraising will be bolstered by the group expanding its message to include sustainability, energy and green technology.
“Our approach that will make us more effective is bringing together the economy and the environment,” Hallman said. “The more people see it, the more people will support the League and our PAC.”
And League members are hoping for more opportunities like last year’s upset State Senate race that put Brian Foley (D-Suffolk) ahead of 13-term incumbent Caesar Trunzo (R). That success was no coincidence: years earlier, the League had targeted municipal seats throughout the state, including Foley’s original Brookhaven town supervisor race. When Foley announced his State Senate campaign, the League was already versed in the politics of the district and its environmental issues. That enabled it to quickly become a force in the race, pouring in $100,000 on Foley’s behalf to inundate the district with TV ads and mailers and robo-calls. Even actor Alec Baldwin cut a robo-call.
Foley’s victory was one of two races that handed Democrats control of the State Senate, though Bystryn contends that the goal was only to get Foley elected, without mind to the implications for changing the power structure of Albany. Nonetheless, she said, the League is making best of the new leverage they gained because of participation in the Foley race.
“We’re using it to the extent that we can convince the new Democratic majority that the environment is an important issue that we ought to respond to,” Bystryn said.
Hallman called the Foley race a demonstration of how the League could flex its muscle in a political campaign to shape the debate.
“It showed that the environmental movement can play the political game,” Hallman explained, “just like any other interest group, like labor and business.”
--
ABOVE: League of Conservation Voters executive director Marcia Bystryn is helping pioneer the organization’s new, more political approach. Photo by Andrew Schwartz
