Michigan representatives in Congress get mixed reviews in latest environmental scorecard
The Ann Arbor-based Michigan League of Conservation Voters has joined the national LCV in releasing a new environmental scorecard, rating each of Michigan's representatives in Congress on how they voted on environmental, public health and energy issues in 2010.
The report shows both of Michigan's U.S. senators — Democrats Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin — scored a perfect 100 percent. So did five Democrats in the House: U.S. Reps. Dale Kildee, Gary Peters, Bart Stupak, John Conyers and Sander Levin.
U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, scored 90 percent in the League of Conservation Voters' latest environmental scorecard.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, whose district includes Ann Arbor, scored 90 percent. He lost points for missing a vote on legislation that called for adopting national policies to prevent ocean acidification, a phenomenon that occurs when carbon dioxide combines with seawater to from carbonic acid.
The average House score among Michigan's 15 representatives was 56 percent. Four of Michigan's House members — all Republicans — earned an abysmal 0 percent, the LCV points out.
LCV leaders note the scorecard is being released amid one of the greatest attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency's budget in 30 years. There have been assaults on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and wildlife protections in Congress.
“We applaud those members of the Michigan delegation who fought in 2010 to protect public health, the environment, and to reduce our nation’s dangerous dependence on oil," Ryan Werder, the Michigan LCV's political director, said in a statement.
Werder said the LCV is particularly disappointed with U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican with a lifetime average of 37 percent. Upton's glaring zero on the 2010 scorecard signals an abrupt turn from his more moderate positions of the past, Werder said.
LCV leaders said unfortunately, the most important votes of 2010 were the ones that didn’t happen. The Senate failed to begin debate on a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill, and failed at responding to the greatest environmental disaster in the nation’s history — the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, said LCV President Gene Karpinski.
The LCV also has been rating Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, now in his second month on the job. Click here for the group's "How Green Is Your Governor?" tracker tool.
This chart shows how Michigan's 15 representatives in the U.S. House, as well as its two U.S. senators, fared in the latest environmental scorecard.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
FattyJ
Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 9:49 p.m.
AnnArbor.com journalism 101: Assume that one political party has the correct stance on an issue, and that one party is ignorant. As we've learned in the past with prohibition, drug laws, and constant military action....More government is not always how to cure our problems.
David Briegel
Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 6:15 p.m.
Bob, It would require Conservatives to actuall become conservative when it comes to conservation issues. Those issues aren't important to the radicals that have hijacked that label and that party. The TeaPublicans value their anti-choice, anti-woman, anti-gay, anti-labor and anti-working people agenda far more than anything else! Bill Milliken and Joe Schwartz are examples of sane politicians who cannot get nominated or elected any longer by these radical extremists!
outdoor6709
Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
Bob, I looked on your website and yes you have both Republicans and Democrats on your board of directors. But as best I can tell you have an anti-growth adgenda. The problem with your policeis is there are also no jobs. The national economy has cloapsed, because we cannot use the natural resourses we have. It takes 5-7 years to get the permits needed to build a new manufacturing plant. Look at Canada which has a more balanced approach to resource use. Your group also appears to support limits on CO2 another anti-growth policy.
Bob Martel
Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
The MILCV is most definitely a non-partisan organization. We are proud to have many Republicans on our Board of Directors and Honorary Boards including former Governor William Milliken, former Representative Joe Schwartz, former Representative Vern Ehlers to name but a few. The scores are what they are because that's how the elected officials voted. If the environment once again became a priority of the GOP and they voted accordingly, they'd score just fine. Bob Martel Board Chair, Michigan League of Conservation Voters
xmo
Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.
I like the awards given by the "NON-PARTISAN" Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Democrats 100% Republicans 0% I am not a highly trained non- partisan journalist like they employ at annarbor.com but something smells fishy? (Maybe a little research into who the Michigan League of Conservation Voters are would help us understand why the Democrats scored so high and why Democrats are endorsed by them at election time)
outdoor6709
Fri, Feb 18, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
I thought reporters were supposed to be nutural in their reporting. Using the adjective abysmall shows a liberal bias. Not much of a surprise.