Green Party congressional candidate Donald Hassig of Colton says that Americans are not getting the information they need to make informed decisions about persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other environmental threats in things such as the food supply and dental fillings.

To remedy the situation, Hassig endorses banning electoral campaign contributions from corporations.

“The governmental public health entities of the United States have failed to provide Americans with warnings of numerous significant chemical exposure health hazards, including: mercury amalgam dental fillings, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contamination of the food supply and concentrated exhaust clouds,” Hassig said in comments prepared for an appearance in Saranac Lake Friday.

“This has occurred due to the influence of corporations upon the federal and state levels of government,” Hassig charges.

“Corporations, with monetary interests in the matters impacted by these chemicals place tremendous amounts of pressure on elected officials and high ranking government administrators to remain silent or mislead the public concerning the damages to health associated with exposure to chemicals.”

Hassig is running to unseat Democrat Bill Owens of Plattsburgh, who represents the current 23rd District in New York. With redistricting, the new North Country district will be the 21st. Owens’ main opponent is Watertown-area Republican Matt Doheny.

Hassig, founder of Cancer Action NY, has been an environmental activist for several years.

Hassig says government has been irresponsible in not providing more information to Americans. To remedy that, Hassig says corporate campaign contributions should be banned.

“Failure to provide warning of avoidable health hazards is one of the most egregious of governmental inactions. Many Americans have become sick and died as a result of these failures. Monsanto Corporation, Dow Chemical Company and General Electric Corporation are some of the worst companies when it comes to pressuring government to ignore scientific knowledge on chemical exposure disease risks and remain silent at a time when warning the public is a clear public health protection responsibility,” Hassig said.

“The best way to bring an end to corporate control of governmental public health entities is to cut the ties between corporations and government. Prohibiting corporate contributions to political campaigns is a high priority strategy for establishing a buffer zone between corporations and our government. Additionally, corporate employees should not be allowed to take positions in government.

“Public health education that provides warnings of avoidable chemical exposure health hazards must become a well established part of government. As a member of Congress, I would sponsor legislation for the creation of an Environmental Health Education Corps. This would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs across the United States. It would bring about reductions in the incidence of cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, auto immune diseases, reproductive problems and learning deficit disorders, all of which are known to be associated with exposure to chemicals. I would confront the corporations on their wrongful influence peddling and I would not back down,” Hassig said.