Lobbyists sent 13 fake letters to Hill

A lobbying firm working for a pro-coal industry group sent lawmakers a total of 13 fraudulent letters opposing the House climate bill–five more than initially believed, the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming said Tuesday. The fake letters–sent to Reps. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.), Christopher Carney (D-Pa.) and Tom Perriello (D-Va.)–purported to be from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, senior citizens groups and Creciendo Juntos, a Hispanic advocacy organization. In total, the firm sent 58 letters, and committee investigators suspect several more may be revealed to be fakes. The newly discovered letters included one, allegedly sent from a senior center in Charlottesville, Va., that the lobbying firm originally claimed was legitimate, the committee said.