Last Friday, the League of Conservation Voters released their 2008 annual environmental scorecard, which shows how Congressional members voted on key energy and environmental issues. Both presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, both scored low ratings on this report.
Politico reported that Sen. Barack Obama only voted pro-environment 18 percent of the time in 2008, dropping considerably from its 67% percent rating last year. Sen. John McCain scored a dismal zero because he missed every environmental vote (note: no vote = negative vote). No surprise to many greenies, this is Mac’s second year with the league’s lowest ratings.
Both senators missed many votes because of time spent campaigning for president. McCain didn’t vote at all and Obama only voted twice this year. The League reported that Obama’s votes for offshore drilling and environmental funding were in favor of the environment.
League president Gene Karpinski told Politico:
“Even under the tremendous pressure of a national campaign, Senator Obama returned to Washington to support the environment in a dozen key votes in the last two years. Sen. McCain … skipped every major environmental vote of the 110th Congress, including a bill to repeal billions in taxpayer handouts to Big Oil and to invest in clean, renewable energy. That measure failed by one vote: John McCain’s.”
So, if the environment is important to you, check out the 2008 environmental scorecard. This year, there were 11 Senate and 13 House votes on energy and environmental issues. This 30-year old, non-partisan report provides a revealing picture of what Congressional members really think about the environment. You can check each member’s record and even take a look at how your state is doing.
If you are pro-environment (like I am), you’ll be pleased to know that California, Connecticut, Michigan, Montana, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin all had perfect Senate averages of 100 percent. Whereas, states like Alaska (where Gov. Palin is at the helm), Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Carolina’s senators only averaged a dismal nine percent.
Luckily, there are some members of Congress with a great greenie record. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) both scored a 100 percent—along with 67 house members and 27 senators. Collins was the only Republican with a perfect score.
Sadly, both McCain and Obama records demonstrated that the environment was not as important to them in 2008 as perhaps they say it is. At least Obama’s lifetime record at 86 percent earned him a solid “B” grade. McCain’s 24 percent lifetime record gave him a failing “F” grade (read: needs improvement). Now that’s straight talk on the eco-express.
Tags: Barack Obama, energy, environmental scorecard, funding, John McCain, League of Conservation Voters, offshore drilling, sarah palin