The environmental implications of the congressional elections

Articles — By forcechange on November 6, 2008 10:04 am

Given the widespread changes in the congressional landscape, the environmental implications of this election will go beyond just the president.  Both Grist and TheDailyGreen conduct some interesting analysis of these changes.

Grist notes that, although a number of environmentally favorable Congresspeople were elected, “there weren’t quite as many pick-ups as greens were hoping for — and a number of the new congressional Democrats come from traditionally fossil-fuel-friendly states.” 

Additionally, “Greens are pumped by the election of four Senate candidates who campaigned aggressively on clean energy and climate action: Democrats Tom Udall of New Mexico, Mark Udall of Colorado, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Kay Hagan of North Carolina.”

This excitement is tempered, however, by the fact that both Hagan and the Udalls campaigned in favor of increased oil drilling, and victorious Virginia Democrat Sen. Mark Warner is an outspoken advocate for coal. 

TheDailyGreen does its own analysis, looking at the League of Conservation Voters “Dirty Dozen” list, and noting that of the 12 congresspeople listed as worst for the environment, 7 were voted out of office. 

Here is TheDailyGreen’s list:

Rep. Tim Walberg – R, Michigan
Walberg served only one term, but distinguished himself as a reliable vote against the environment. He scored just 5% (out of 100) on LCV’s annual ranking of votes on environmental issues. In 2007 and 2008, he voted against ever piece of legislation but one that LCV identified as key for improving energy efficiency and investing in clean energy. He also voted against the No Child Left Inside Act, which funds outdoor programs for school age children.
Democrat Mark Schauer won his seat Tuesday.

Rep. Anne Northrop – R, Kentucky
Northrop had a dismal 7% lifetime LCV score when she was voted out of office in 2006, and voters opted to give the incumbent who defeated her, Democrat John Yarmuth, another term.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole – R, North Carolina
Dole’s 2008 reelection campaign will be remembered for the ad that accused her challenger, Democrat Kay Hagan, of being “godless” with a fake voice-over meant to sound like Hagan. But Dole’s record as a Senator did more damage to the country. She had just a 4% lifetime LCV voting score.
In 2008, she voted against renewable energy production and energy conservation measures, but supported subsidies for oil companies while they were reaping record profits. (She also took more than a quarter million dollars of campaign contributions from Big Oil, according to LCV.) In 2007, she voted against raising the fuel economy of American vehicles and for the development of liquid coal fuels. And that just scrapes the surface.

Dean Andal
.  Andal had a 9% LCV rating as a state senator when he chose to run against Democrat Jerry McNerney, a renewable energy advocate, for his Congressional seat. Voters didn’t buy it.

Rep. Steve Pearce – R, New Mexico
In just one of 80 chances, over five years as a U.S. representative, did Pearce vote in favor of environmental protections favored by the LCV. He consistently voted against renewable energy development, and in favor of oil and gas drilling. In his race for a Senate seat, voters opted for his challenger, Rep. Tom Udall, for the seat vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici, who never scored better than 20% on LCV’s annual Scorecard (and twice scored zero) in the last decade in the Senate.

Rep. Bob Schaffer – R, Colorado
A former congressman, Schaffer lost to Rep. Mark Udall in a race for the Senate in Colorado. He left Congress to work for an oil company, and his campaign received significant funding from the oil industry, according to LCV.

Rep. Joe Knollenberg – R, Michigan
Knollenberg is synonymous with inaction on global warming. He twice tried to pass an amendment that would have barred federal agencies from doing anything about global warming, including holding educational seminars. That line of thinking was of a piece with his voting record, which has favored polluting industries over clean energy. Voters opted for something new, Democrat Gary Peters. 

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