You’re going to Denver for the Democratic convention and you think to yourself, “What will I need to survive this week?”

Think no further, you’ve probably been alerted in your e-mail by the American Coaltion for Clean Coal Energy that they have a “Convention Survival Kit” waiting for you. According to ACCCE, the kit contains: a travel pillow, snack bar, breath mints, collapsable water bottle, luggage tag, and much more! But wait, what’s the most important thing you’ll need to survive convention week:

“The most important item you’ll find in your kit is our contact information during the convention. We’d love to speak with you about the benefits of coal-based electricity to a sound energy platform.”

Awesome. When you’re waiting in line for Obama’s Invesco acceptance speech you can call up a lobbyist and talk about coal-based electricity.

(Of course, the convention is packed with elected officials from across the country. They’re easier to strike when herded into one place.)

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The coal industry is in the middle of a massive $40 million campaign to make sure that Congress, the presidential candidates, and the American people get to know that black rock in their stockings a little better - and to keep politicians from doing anything to threaten the burning of said unwelcome stocking guest in coal-fired power plants. If you’ve paid attention to the presidential race you probably noticed that a number of the debates were sponsored by a coal front group called Americans for Balanced Energy Choices and that those debates did not dare to feature a single question about global warming. CNN received $5 million dollars from the group. I’d say they got a good bang for their buck.

Facing a bruising fight over climate change, the coal industry is on the political offensive this election year to ensure that no matter who wins in November, so does coal.

Billions of dollars in corporate profits are at stake for the companies that mine, ship and burn the nation’s most abundant domestic fuel.

…

The group expects to spend some $40 million this year. That’s more than double its spending in 2007.

With 59 coal power plants scrapped last year, the industry is fighting to make sure it can emerge from the climate change debate with a guaranteed spot in the nation’s energy future. Even as critics call for shuttering coal plants, the industry is shopping new uses for the fuel, such as converting it into synthetic diesel and jet fuel through a proposed group of coal-to-liquids plants.

Now I know that these industry shops have to disclose their lobbying, you can view ABECs disclosures here, but why don’t they have to disclose all of their efforts to influence legislation through PR, advertising, and general marketing campaigns. How is this any less important to the outcomes of legislation than the direct lobbying of members of Congress?

As politicians rely on public perceptions, through polling and other devices, to gauge their constituents views on issues it seems crucial to understand how those with business in Washington are trying to influence our perceptions that then get related to our elected representatives.

Now maybe these guys file a 990 somewhere and I can’t find it, but I’m pretty sure that these lobby and front groups do not disclose their efforts to lobby the American people and change perceptions (or maintain them). That’s not cool.

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• Sen. Mel Martinez may not like this Miami Herald article that shows how $250,000 in campaign contributions is connected to the felonious lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
• Former White House procurement officer and Abramoff e-mail buddy David Safavian "was dealt a series of setbacks by a federal judge Wednesday," according to Roll Call. The judge ruled that jurors can hear allegations that Safavian gave Abramoff "confidential government information about one of his clients" and "that jurors can be told the full cost of a controversial Scotland golf junket that Safavian took part in during August 2002." Can they also be told the purpose of that trip: Golf Golf Golf Golf!!!!! (more from TalkLeft)
• This anti-Al Gore movie ad is the perfect example of how big business operates through front groups. This one just seems completely over the top, beyond the realms of reason. I mean this ad is hanging in the outer regions of the universe. Seriously how many people in the world are pro-emissions? I love Josh Marshall’s vision of the pro-emissions crowd: "I have this image in my mind of connoisseurs with their noses by a muffler. Nice bouquet? Mmmmm. Bahrain 1974." An e-mailer to Josh provides his take: "With their new ad anti-global warming ads, I think we can safely call May 18, 2006 the day the oil companies lost it completely."

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