LCV Releases 2007 National Environmental Scorecard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington state contact: Sudha Nandagopal, (206) 631-2624 or Sudha@wcvoters.org
National contact: David Sandretti, (202) 785-8683 or david_sandretti@lcv.org

•    ’07 Scorecard and related features available online at: www.lcv.org/scorecard/
•    Please email Sudha@wcvoters.org if you would like a pdf version

LCV Releases 2007 National Environmental Scorecard

Seattle, WA. – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) applauds lawmakers 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 President Gene Karpinski said LCV’s 2007 National Environmental Scorecard, released today and available at www.lcv.org/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.”

Washington Members
“Here in the state of Washington, LCV applauds Reps. Jay Inslee (D-1st), Brian Baird (D-3rd), Norm Dicks (D-6th) and Jim McDermott (D-7th) for impressive scores of 95 percent,” said Kurt Fritts, Executive Director of Washington Conservation Voters. “Congressman Dicks also deserves particular praise for being a national leader on global warming.”  Dicks was a sponsor of a nonbinding Sense of the Congress resolution endorsing mandatory limits on global warming pollution, the first time that the House has gone on record on this critical issue.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-9th) scored 90 percent, Rep. Dave Reichert (R-8th) scored 85 percent, and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-2nd) scored 80 percent. Senators Maria Cantwell (D) and Patty Murray (D) both scored well with 87 percent.  “It’s great to have a delegation that makes protecting the environment here in the Pacific Northwest a top priority,” said Fritts. “And we are pleased to see Congressman Reichert improving on environmental issues with each successive year,” said Fritts.
In contrast with other members of the Washington delegation, Reps. Doc Hastings (R-4th) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th) scored a disappointing 5 percent. “In a time when environmental issues are high on everyone’s radar throughout all regions of the state, it’s clear that Reps. Hastings and McMorris Rodgers are out of step with their constituents,” said Fritts.

New Leadership brings Environmental Success

“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.

“Seventy-one out of the 89 candidates LCV endorsed in 2006 (80 percent) won,” he said. “Elections have consequences, and LCV’s success in helping elect pro-environment candidates already has reaped environmental policy results. We are delighted that not only do the LCV-endorsed new members have an impressive average score of 87 percent, but many of them also championed key legislative priorities.”

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.

Scorecard Highlights

The Scorecard, an annual measure of lawmakers’ votes on environmental issues, highlights:

•    The passage of H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act. The law raises overall fuel economy of cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon – the first increase since 1975. This will save more than 1.1 million barrels of oil per day and significantly reduce global warming pollution.

•    The rejection of failed policies of the past, including plans to increase offshore drilling and promote the production of liquid coal to fuel automobiles. (This fuel would contain twice the global warming pollution of conventional gasoline.)

•    The adoption of a Sense of the Congress resolution calling for mandatory limits on global warming pollution and the approval of a National Intelligence Estimate to deal with the security implications of climate change.

Presidential Candidates’ Scores

•    The presidential candidates' scores all suffered from the occupational hazard of absenteeism. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) missed four votes each in 2007, although both made a point of being on hand for the key vote that would have allowed a version of the energy bill to move forward that included a provision to repeal billions of dollars in tax breaks for big oil and put that money toward clean energy programs. Clinton’s score in 2007 was 73 percent (87 percent lifetime); Obama’s was 67 percent (86 percent lifetime).
•    Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) scored 0 percent in 2007 (24 percent lifetime) due to missing all 15 votes scored, including the key vote on repealing tax giveaways to big oil – a measure that failed by only one vote.
 
“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 LCV Legislative Director Tiernan Sittenfeld. “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.”

LCV expects to issue a Scorecard shortly after the Congressional Recess in the fall of 2008.

LCV, the nation’s independent voice for the environment, engages in public education, lobbying and accountability to turn environmental values into public policy.  LCV has made global warming and America’s energy future a central focus of its activities in Congress and in the 2008 election cycle.

Washington Conservation Voters is the statewide political voice for the environment working to elect environmentally responsible candidates to state and local offices, advocating for strong environmental policies and holding our elected officials accountable. Washington Conservation Voters is a member league of the League of Conservation Voters.