For Immediate Release – April 24, 2008
Contact: Stuart Jolly (405) 514-0514, or Annie Patnaude (202) 441-5193

Nationwide Hot Air Balloon Tour Highlighting Dangers of Global Warming Alarmism to Stop in Oklahoma City, May 1

Event Aims to Educate Citizens on Economic Costs of Global Warming Policies

OKLAHOMA CITY – The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will bring its nationwide hot air balloon tour to Oklahoma City on Thursday, May 1, for a grassroots event at the Bricktown ballpark parking lot. Even as gasoline prices reach an all-time high, the Hot Air Tour will highlight an economy-destroying, stealth energy tax hike contained in legislation being pushed by global warming alarmists. The event is free and open to media and the public.

Hundreds of citizens will hear from AFP President Tim Phillips, AFP Oklahoma Director Stuart Jolly, and other speakers about the economic one-two punch that global warming legislation would strike to Oklahoma and the nation. A proposed regulatory scheme known as “cap-and-trade” could easily double energy costs for American families and businesses. The Congressional Budget Office scored the Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade bill as a $1.2 trillion tax hike.

The event will have a strong visual rally component, most notably AFP’s enormous seventy-foot hot air balloon with the message: Global Warming Alarmism: Lost Jobs, Higher Taxes, Less Freedom. Other visuals will include the crowd of people with flags, signs, and balloons, as well as a large gas station sign with a 144% energy tax hike included in the price.

WHO: Americans for Prosperity

WHAT: Grassroots rally with a 70 ft. tall hot air balloon. Food will be served and hot air balloon rides will be provided weather permitting. There is no cost to attend, but citizens are encouraged to register online at http://www.costofhotair.com/, or by phone to (405) 514-0514

WHEN: 5:15 p.m.; Thursday, May 1

WHERE: Bricktown ballpark parking lot, 2. South Mickey Mantle Drive, Oklahoma City

“Elected officials at all levels of government are converting global warming alarmism into policies that will have devastating consequences for our economy,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “We think American families need to know what these proposals will cost them – lost jobs, higher energy prices, and less freedom. We’re launching this tour to educate citizens on unaffordable climate change schemes."

A recent Gallup poll indicated that the country’s economic situation is by far the greatest concern among likely voters, with high energy prices tying health care for third biggest concern. Despite the propaganda advanced by global warming alarmists, global warming did not even make the list. Yet proposals aimed at climate change would harm the economy and lead to drastic hikes in energy costs, for almost no environmental gain.

Well over 300 citizens braved rainy weather conditions to kick off the cross-country Hot Air Tour in Washington, DC, on April 21. In all the Tour will visit over two dozen key locations around the country. Oklahoma City, Okla., will be the third stop on the first swing of the Tour. Other stops this week will be: Kansas City, Mo., Wichita, Kan., Dallas, Texas, Houston, Texas, and Lafayette, La.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org//

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