Stealth "Bell the Hybrid"

The advocates of H.R. 734 have learned their lessons from the failed, H.R. 5734, and are taking a stealthy approach. Instead of using press releases and articles, they conducted a successful, lobby congress effort last week. The number of cosponsors went from 34 to 62 and is still climbing:

Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 1/28/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 1/28/2009
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 1/28/2009
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 1/28/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 1/28/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 1/28/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 1/28/2009
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 1/28/2009
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 1/28/2009
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 1/28/2009
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 1/28/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 1/28/2009
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 1/28/2009
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 1/28/2009
Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2] - 1/28/2009
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 1/28/2009
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 1/28/2009
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 1/28/2009
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] - 1/28/2009
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 1/28/2009
Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] - 1/28/2009
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] - 1/28/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 1/28/2009
Rep Young, Don [AK] - 1/28/2009
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 1/28/2009
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 1/28/2009
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 1/28/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 1/28/2009
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 1/28/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 1/28/2009
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 1/28/2009
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 1/28/2009
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 1/28/2009
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 1/28/2009
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 2/3/2009
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 2/3/2009
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 2/3/2009
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 2/3/2009
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 2/4/2009

NFB DC Lobby Effort 02/08/2009-02/12/2009

Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 2/10/2009
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 2/10/2009
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 2/10/2009
Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] - 2/10/2009
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 2/10/2009
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] - 2/12/2009
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] - 2/12/2009
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 2/12/2009
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] - 2/12/2009
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 2/12/2009
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 2/12/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 2/12/2009
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 2/12/2009
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 2/12/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 2/12/2009
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 2/12/2009
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 2/12/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 2/13/2009
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 2/13/2009
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 2/13/2009
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 2/13/2009
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 2/13/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 2/13/2009
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In fact, the efforts at state laws, New York and New Mexico, have also been marked by a 'press blackout.' This makes sense because last year, the public comments were nearly 2-to-1 or higher against it. Everyone laughed at the concept including the famous Stephen Colbert report that "Hybrid Fuel is Blind People."

One thing this 'press black out' does is lull hybrid electric owners into a sense of complacency. It gives the illusion that nothing is happening and we don't have to worry about it. But the opposite is true.

For now, the best we can do is keep open communications with our Congressional representatives, both House and Senate. Point out the accident data does shows the 500,000 Prius, a well known hybrid, is neither more nor less dangerous than ordinary vehicles. In the meanwhile, I'll make sure all of the facts and data are on a web site where we can easily share them. After all, we have the most powerful answer, the truth.

Bob Wilson