Green group: Ernst wants to close EPA, Education Department

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) launched an advertisement Monday hitting Republican Joni Ernst for her desire to shut down the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Education Department.

It is LCV’s second ad in the race to replace Sen. Tom Harkin (D). LCV has pledged to spend $1 million against Ernst, a state senator who is running against Rep. Bruce Braley (D).

{mosads}LCV also called attention to Ernst’s environmental and education positions in its first ad against the candidate in late June.

The Monday ad quotes an April debate in which Ernst said she would seek to shut down the EPA, a move LCV said would mean “cutting clean air and water enforcement, letting polluters off the hook.”

Ernst’s position against the Education Department clashes with those of the people of Iowa, who are “always working to open doors for our kids,” the ad states.

“Joni Ernst wants to slam shut the doors of EPA and Department of Education and throw away the keys,” Daniel J. Weiss, who leads LCV’s campaign operations, said in a statement. “Her agenda benefits her special interest allies, not Iowa families.”