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February 21, 2008 For Immediate Release Contact:
Kerry Duggan, National League of Conservation Voters; (202)
454-4592 or cell (734) 846-0093 Brian Beauchamp, Michigan LCV; (734) 222-9650 or cell (734) 904-9915 LCV Releases 2007 National Environmental Scorecard Michigan League of Conservation
Voters Applauds Reps. Dingell, Levin for 90 Percent Scores Ann Arbor, MICH – The Michigan League of
Conservation Voters (LCV) applauds lawmakers, including Representatives Dingell
and Levin, for their work during the first session of the 110th
Congress to move America toward a clean energy future and to prepare for the
challenge of addressing global warming. LCV’s 2007 National
Environmental Scorecard was released today and is available at www.michiganlcv.org. The Scorecard is an
annual measure of lawmakers’ votes on environmental issues. LCV President Gene Karpinski said that the National
Environmental Scorecard shows that last year “marked a turning point
for the environment, and proved that electing pro-environment candidates is a
critical first step toward enacting sound environmental policies that will
protect our planet and our future.” “The progress of 2007, including passage of the first
increase in fuel efficiency standards for automobiles in a generation, was
largely due to new leadership in both the House and the Senate, and to the many
new members who came to Congress determined to bring about a clean energy
future,” Karpinski said. Michigan Scores
“Here in Michigan, LCV applauds Reps. John Dingell
(D-15th) and Sandy Levin (D-12th) who earned 90 percent scores
– the highest in the state delegation,” Michigan LCV Executive
Director Lisa Wozniak said. “We are pleased that Rep. Dingell now heads
the House Energy and Commerce Committee, replacing Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX),
whose lifetime score is 7 percent.” “We are disappointed that Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-2nd),
who scored an abysmal 5 percent, tried to amend the Intelligence authorization
bill (H.R. 2082) to strike a provision calling for a National Intelligence
Estimate to examine the national security implications of global warming.
Fortunately, the House rejected the amendment,” Wozniak said.
“Reps. Tim Walberg (R-7th) and Michael J. Rogers (R-8th)
also earned poor scores of 5 percent, while Dave Camp (R-4th) scored
a zero. New Members Who Defeated ‘Dirty Dozen’ Score High
“Our 2006 campaigns also helped
defeat 9 out of 13 of LCV’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ members, who had a
combined average lifetime score of just 8 percent, while the new members who
replaced them have a combined average score of 88 percent,” Karpinski
said.
The “Dirty Dozen” program
targets members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, who consistently
vote against the environment and are running in races where LCV has a serious
chance of affecting the outcome. In 2006, LCV’s “Dirty Dozen”
included Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT), both of whom
were defeated after consistently siding with oil interests instead of the
people they were elected to represent. While Pombo’s LCV lifetime score
was 7 percent, his replacement, Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), scored 90 percent.
Burns, whose lifetime score was 5 percent, has now been replaced by Sen. John
Tester (D-MT), who scored 80 percent.
Presidential Candidates’ Scores
“As we begin the second half of the 110th
Congress, we realize we still have a long way to go. But we have high hopes
that lawmakers will build on the progress of 2007,” said National LCV
Campaign Project Manager Kerry Duggan. “Most important, they must heed
the warnings of the world’s leading climate scientists who say we have a
very short window in which to avert the catastrophic effects of global warming. “This year, LCV urges Congress to pass legislation
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15-20 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by
2050. Our future depends on it, and LCV will continue to work hard to educate
the public on which lawmakers are helping us achieve those goals.” ### No virus found in this outgoing message. |