Shays Honored as Champion of Public Interest
By Paul Ziobro
WASHINGTON – Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th) was one of five congressional Republicans recognized this week by the State Public Interest Research Groups for their work on environmental issues and consumer protection.
“I am grateful to receive this award and appreciate the efforts of PIRG and other groups that have a positive impact in the public policy process,” Shays said.
In an interview Wednesday, he said he supports the groups’ typically liberal positions because they represent the concerns of his constituents.
“I vote with the Republican Party when I think they are right and vote against them when I think it’s not right. And the same holds true for PIRG,” Shays said.
Thirty members of Congress were honored with Public Interest Champion awards to celebrate the PIRGs’ 30th anniversary, according to the group. This was the first time the non-profit, nonpartisan group recognized key allies with these awards.
Connecticut PIRG field organizer Kelly Benkert, who presented Shays with a plaque in his office Wednesday, said Shays earned the award based on his pro-environment voting record – specifically for fighting to make sure the government does not subsidize polluting industries and to protect waterways from mining pollution.
“As a moderate Republican, it’s a good way to encourage him to keep fighting for the public interest and sort of buck the trend of the current administration to do otherwise,” Benkert said.
Shays and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) introduced legislation Wednesday that would prohibit dumping industrial waste into rivers and streams, a practice the Bush administration is seeking through changes in the Clean Water Act regulations last May, according to Shays’ office. Their legislation, the Clean Water Protection Act of 2003, would protect the definition of “fill material” in the Clean Water Act from being expanded to include mining wastes and other pollutants.
Benkert said ConnPIRG also commended Shays for voting last year against an energy bill that contained provisions for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) – a vote, she said, where Shays crossed party lines “to support the public interest.”
Shays joined nine Republican colleagues in sending a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) Jan. 31 opposing inserting language in the fiscal year 2004 budget that would indirectly allow ANWR drilling.
“We should be focusing on achieving greater fuel efficiency and on developing prudent and lasting alternative fuel energies rather than risk irreparable damage to the wilderness of one of North America’s most precious frontiers,” Shays said in a Jan. 31 statement.
ConnPIRG, according to Benkert, is dedicated to fighting for the public interest and currently has about 10,000 members statewide. This fall, the state group will hold a reception to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Organizers from the state PIRGs were in Washington this week for a national conference.
Published in The Hour, in Connecticut.
