Fallon for Congress?

Ed Fallon for Congress in 2010? I'm just going to throw that out there. No. Fallon hasn't told me he wants to run again. But it's something that crossed my mind today as I read this release from Fallon's advocacy group/business. Fallon already ran against Iowa's 3rd District incumbent Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell in the primary in 2008 after unsuccessfully running in the gubernatorial primary in 2006. In the release Fallon encourages Boswell to "do what Al Gore would do". Interestingly, Fallon endorsed Ralph Nader instead of Gore in 2000, which angered some leaders in his Democratic party. Here's the release:

Boswell Failing Iowans on Climate Change Bill

"Tell him to do what Al Gore would do if Gore were a member of Congress and vote for HR 2454!"

Today, Ed and Lynn Fallon challenged Congressman Leonard Boswell to “do as Al Gore would do” and support HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The Fallons sent out an e-mail update to 7,000 Iowans today asking them to contact Boswell’s office and request his support for the legislation.

Last week, Boswell made national news saying, "As this bill stands today, I can't vote for it. I don't know of anyone else in the {House Agriculture} committee who can." The Fallons point out that Al Gore, on the other hand, recently said HR 2454 carries "the moral significance equivalent to that of the civil rights legislation of the 1960s and the Marshall Plan of the late 1940s."

Ed ran against Congressman Boswell in last year’s Democratic primary for Congress, and at that time Al Gore endorsed the Congressman, lauding Boswell in one flier as being “on the front lines” to address global warming.

“Perhaps Gore hoped that his endorsement would encourage Boswell to turn over a new leaf,” said Ed Fallon. “Well, last week Boswell let Al Gore down. More important, he let his constituents down. If Boswell truly wanted to be ‘on the front lines’ in the fight to address climate change, he would throw his weight behind HR 2454 instead of actively opposing it.

This week, Chris Bowers of Open Left wrote in a national blog post, “Boswell, along with seemingly all other Democrats on the Agriculture Committee, is hijacking climate change legislation unless it removes the EPA's authority to regulate carbon. This demand would actually be a step backward for climate change policy in the United States.”

“Regrettably, Boswell’s position on HR 2454 is consistent with his long history of opposition to pro-environment legislation,” continued Ed. “In August of 2001, he voted against an amendment that would have raised fuel efficiency standards to 27.5 mpg. In July of 2005, he voted for $14.5 billion in tax breaks and incentives for energy companies, even though House Democrats opposed the bill 124-75. In June of 2006, he voted to end a 25-year moratorium on offshore oil drilling.

In February of 2007, he voted for an amendment to permit offshore drilling for natural gas, which House Democrats opposed 194-38.

Also in February of 2007, he signed a letter to the House Speaker and Majority Leader calling for legislation to support continued use of coal ‘for decades to come.’ And in July of 2007, he voted against an amendment to prevent the expediting of oil shale drilling, which House Democrats supported 202-27.”

Ed and Lynn concluded their e-mail to supporters saying, “America and Iowa need Congressman Boswell to turn over a new leaf. Recent climate-change scenarios forecast even greater temperature increases, more rapid ice melt and higher sea-levels than previously predicted. Legislation such as HR 2454 is imperative. Please take a minute to contact Congressman Boswell. Tell him to do what Al Gore would do if Gore were a member of Congress and vote for the American Clean Energy and Security Act!”