Greens launch ads against two GOP senators for Pruitt votes

An environmental group is launching an advertising campaign against two Senate Republicans who voted to confirm Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt last week. 

The ads target Sens. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), both of whom are up for reelection in 2018. They are part of a $580,000 campaign from the League of Conservation Voters, featuring both English and Spanish TV and radio spots.

The Arizona ads highlight asthma rates in the state, saying the EPA under Pruitt “will only make things worse” through weaker air pollution rules. The Nevada television ad said a Pruitt-led EPA would hurt clean water. 

{mosads}The League’s ads are the first released by a green group since Pruitt’s confirmation as EPA administrator, but not the first related to his nomination for the position. 

The group is one of several organizations to have advertised against Pruitt, spending $50,000 on a digital ad campaign as part of a $3 million battle over his nomination. Nevada and Arizona were two of seven states included in a NextGen Climate television ad campaign in January designed to convince Republican senators to vote against Pruitt.  

The Senate confirmed Pruitt on a 52-46 vote on Friday, with only one Republican, Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), opposing him. 

Two Democrats supported Pruitt’s nomination: Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), both of whom are also up for reelection in 2018.