(ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA) — This week the 60 Plus Association, a national non-partisan seniors advocacy group, will begin running television ads in Arizona highlighting former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith’s support of the Kyoto Protocol, environmental standards that would undermine Arizona’s energy resources, hurt the state economy, and force all Arizonans to pay higher utility bills.  Smith is currently seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination. 60 Plus represents more than 167,000 seniors in the Grand Canyon state. The ad can be seen here.

The ad states, “Like Al Gore, Smith supports the Kyoto Protocol, an international contract that sets binding greenhouse gas controls.  He even signed a pledge.  It would kill millions of American jobs.  While the world’s biggest polluters aren’t required to reduce greenhouse gases.  Smith joins liberals and Obama in their war on affordable, reliable energy and wants American taxpayers to pay for heavy regulations.”

Said 60 Plus Chairman Jim Martin, “The Kyoto Protocol would be an absolute disaster for Arizona’s economy and consumers, especially seniors on fixed incomes, who pay a disproportionate share of their living expenses to keep the lights on. Kyoto’s crushing regulations will kill jobs, choke our economy and cause millions to cry ‘uncle’ when they get their electric bill. Unfortunately Scott Smith sides with President Obama and the radical environmentalists over the interests of Arizona’s seniors and working families.”

The ad will run in Phoenix and Tucson on statewide cable beginning June 28 and ending on July 11.  For more information on the 60 Plus Association and to watch the ad, visit www.60plus.org.

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