Following a session of Congress in which many of our core environmental laws were under attack, and against the backdrop of America’s worst natural disaster and record high energy prices, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has released its 2005 National Environmental Scorecard.
The document follows a Congressional session marked by the passage of an energy bill – the most anti-environmental bill signed into law in recent memory – that fails to protect consumers in any way from rising energy prices. In contrast, 2005 also saw the defeat of multiple attempts to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“In a year when elected officials in Washington were given numerous opportunities to cast votes on issues vital to our energy future as well as clean air, clean water and key conservation initiatives, the 2005 National Environmental Scorecard offers a clear-eyed look at just where our members of Congress stand,” said LCV Legislative Director Tiernan Sittenfeld.
“LCV intends to take this document back to individual Congressional districts to let the American public know exactly how their elected officials voted on key issues affecting the environment as well as their health, pocketbooks, and quality of life.”
In the coming weeks, LCV canvassers will be going door-to-door in states across the country letting citizens know how their elected officials voted on key environmental votes included in the Scorecard.
“Let me be clear: In 2006, LCV will take every opportunity to let Americans know just who stood up for their environment and public health, and who sided with corporate special interests,” said LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs and Public Education Tony Massaro.
The 2005 National Environmental Scorecard includes 45 100% scores (40 in the House, 5 in the Senate) and 98 zeros (88 in the House, 10 in the Senate). The national average was 45 percent for Representatives and 45 percent for Senators. The Scorecard has been published by LCV for every Congress since 1970.
The National Environmental Scorecard – based on a scale of 0 to 100 – was scored on the number of pro-environment votes cast out of the total number included for 2005. Absences are counted as a negative vote. Among the votes included are those on national energy policy, Arctic Refuge drilling proposals, environmental funding, public health and endangered species.
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