LANSING, Mich., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today announced the statewide release of its "Decline to Sign" radio advertisement.

"For decades, Michigan has a track record of safe, reliable energy exploration that has helped create over 30,000 Michigan jobs and lowered energy bills for customers across this state," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "Unfortunately, a group of extremists are once again misleading the public in an effort to gather signatures for a ballot proposal to totally ban fracking despite documented economic benefits for Michigan."

"The release of the Chamber's our radio advertisement is just the next step in our grassroots effort to protect Michigan's energy future," Studley noted.   

"We are strongly committed to educating voters that fracking is a safe and proven method of energy exploration," said Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "We will not be deterred in our efforts that help create more Michigan jobs and lower energy bills."

"We urge citizens to protect Michigan's energy future and, if asked to sign a petition to ban fracking, 'Decline To Sign'," Holcomb added.

To assist with managing the grassroots voter education campaign, the Michigan Chamber has retained noted political strategist Stu Sandler, founder of the Michigan-based consulting firm Decider Strategies, who is a veteran of several statewide campaigns.

"Stu has an established track record of being aggressive and winning statewide fights against senseless proposals," said Studley. "In 2012, Stu was a key consultant to the Michigan Chamber in opposing five damaging proposed constitutional amendments – all of which were defeated." 

Last month, environmental extremists announced the kickoff to a statewide effort to collect signatures for an initiative to ban fracking in Michigan, despite decades of safe, reliable energy exploration.

"The Michigan Chamber is committed to protecting  Michigan's Energy Future and we will aggressively fight all attempts by extremists who would raise home heating bills and cut jobs," said Holcomb.   

Two years ago, environmental extremists failed to collect enough signatures to put an initiative on the 2014 ballot. The "Decline to Sign" campaign is committed to thwarting the current extremist effort to ban hydraulic fracking as well as other wide-sweeping bans on safe, reliable energy exploration. 

The first radio ad "Decline to Sign" begins airing today. Listen now.

For more information on the Michigan Chamber's campaign to Protect Michigan's Energy Future, go to www.michamber.com/energyindependence. 

Text of Radio ad: 

In 1962, Michigan families began allowing exploration for natural gas on their land. For decades, fracking has provided Michigan families with safe, affordable, clean, reliable natural gas for energy. Fracking has helped Michigan families with lower energy bills, and created over 30,000 jobs right here in Michigan. And it's all been safe, reliable, clean and low-cost. 

Now environmental extremists want to ban fracking and take that away. A ban on fracking would result in higher energy costs and lost Michigan jobs. If you are asked to sign this dangerous  petition to ban fracking — decline to sign.

Decline to sign to keep energy costs low. Decline to sign to keep energy jobs in Michigan. Decline to sign to protect Michigan's energy future. 

To find out more about how you can help protect Michigan's energy future through exploration that provides lower energy bills and more Michigan jobs, go to michamber.com. 

Paid for with regulated funds by Michigan Chamber PAC II.

The Michigan Chamber is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,700 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. Michigan Chamber member businesses provide jobs to 1.5 million residents. One of every 2.6 employees in Michigan works for a Chamber member firm. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process.

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SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce