League of Conservation Voters

LCV Begs to Differ with First Lady Laura Bush

LCV President Gene Karpinski released the following statement this weekend after First Lady Laura Bush inexplicably defended the conservation ethic of Rep. Richard Pombo, Chair of LCV's 2006 'Dirty Dozen,' while campaigning in California:

"In four days, voters in California's 11th District will join us in begging to differ with First Lady Laura Bush's opinion of Representative Richard Pombo. While his own state has adopted aggressive renewable energy standards, Representative Pombo has instead made taking tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Big Oil his standard operating procedure. Rep. Pombo's environmental ethic may blend well in George Bush's Washington, but it doesn't work in the Golden State."

Just Released! LCVAF's "Mambo Pombo" Radio Ad

Today LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs Tony Massaro issued the following statement announcing the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund's new radio ad, "Pombo Mambo," which begins airing today throughout California's 11th Congressional District:

"The League of Conservation Voters is putting out good music to highlight Rep. Richard Pombo's terrible record. Our "Pombo-Mambo" radio ad uses a Calypso beat to inform voters about the $120,000 Rep. Pombo has taken from Big Oil, his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his use of a taxpayer money to rent an RV for a family vacation, and the fact that dirty air and water are not a concern of his. It's 60 seconds of a happy beat that reflects a sad record."

To listen to the ad, click here:  http://www.lcv.org/campaigns/2006-campaigns.html

For more information on LCV's endorsed candidates for 2006, visit our website at: http://www.lcv.org/campaigns/endorsements/index.html.

Dirty Dozen Mentioned in Heated Colorado Gubernatorial Debate

Last night, Colorado Gubernatorial Candidates Rep. Bob Beauprez and Bill Ritter met for a debate on energy and environmental issues in Rifle, Colorado.

According to the Aspen Times, "Ritter took aim at Beauprez at one point, citing his spot on the League of Conservation Voters' "Dirty Dozen List" for his poor voting record on environmental issues and for his plan to enhance wildlife habitat as mitigation for oil and gas development."

Rep. Beauprez was the first gubernatorial candidate in LCV's 36 year history to be named to the Dirty Dozen list...quite an honor... Click Here

CREW Names 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress

The inclusion of Senators Burns and Santorum and Representatives Doolittle, Harris, Hayworth, Musgrave, Pombo, Sherwood, Sweeney, Taylor and Weldon on the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" list is about as surprising as the revelation that the name of this day will end in a "y."

Six of these members: Burns, Santorum, Harris, Hayworth, Pombo and Taylor were also named to LCV's Dirty Dozen list.

These Representatives have consistently voted for the interests of Big Oil and lobbyists ahead of the people they were elected to represent, and have shown absolutely no willingness to put in the hard, bipartisan work necessary to solve our nation's pressing energy challenges. While these elected officials cozied up to Washington special interests, energy prices soared and oil companies are swimming in billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies.

Go figure.

The Final Dirty Dozen

LCV recently named the final Dirty Dozen -- some of the worst Members of Congress based on their environmental record.  LCV has added Senator George Allen (VA) and Representatives Dan Boren (OK), J.D. Hayworth (AZ) and Deborah Pryce (OH) to the Dirty Dozen. For the first time in LCV's history, we also added a gubernatorial candidate -- Rep. Bob Beauprez – to the Dirty Dozen list.

These 5 candidates join 8 others to make a Baker's Dirty Dozen.  The previously named Dirty Dozen members are: Conrad Burns (MT), Rick Santorum (PA), Jim Talent (MO), Henry Cuellar (TX), Katherine Harris (FL), Richard Pombo (CA), Charles Taylor (NC) and Heather Wilson (NM).  Representatives Tom Delay (TX) and Bob Ney (OH) were placed in a separate category following their respective decisions not to seek re-election.

According to recent poll numbers, many of the Dirty Dozen are vulnerable this election cycle, including Big Oil allies Richard Pombo and Conrad Burns.

To view the Dirty Dozen press releases and Oil Slick Seven document, visit: www.lcv.org/campaigns/dirty-dozen/index.html

LCV To Announce Newest Member of Dirty Dozen

 

This Thursday, LCV will announce the newest member of the Dirty Dozen list.

Having already selected the first nine members of the group, LCV is asking respondents to select one of five choices offered as representatives of the worst anti-environmental members of Congress. Voters will identify the individual they feel has most egregiously blocked efforts to tackle America's energy challenges, as well as global warming as a whole.

Choices include Rep. Charles Taylor (NC-11) - Lifetime LCV Score of 5%, Rep. John Hostettler (IN-8) Lifetime LCV Score of 11%, Rep. Mike Sodrel (IN-9) Lifetime LCV Score of 0%, Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-19) Lifetime LCV Score of 16% or Rep. Dan Boren (OK-2) with the Lifetime LCV Score of 28%.

Visit our website to vote for the next addition to the Dirty Dozen at www.lcv.org