Massachusetts Ranks Second in the Nation on Environmental Scorecard
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21- The Massachusetts congressional delegation scored second in the nation on an environmental scorecard released by the League of Conservation Voters Tuesday.
According to the 2005 National Environmental Scorecard, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) scored 95 percent, up three points from the previous year. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) also scored 95 percent, up from 44 percent in 2003-04 when he missed key votes because he was campaigning for President.
Members of the House and the Senate are rated on whether they vote on key environmental issues for what the league considers to be in favor of environmental action.
“I applaud the work that [the league] has done in compiling this scorecard,” Kerry said in a statement. “It’s important that 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.”
U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern (D-Worcester) scored 100 percent, along with Reps. John F. Tierney (D-Salem) and Edward J. Markey (D-Medford).
Tiernan Sittenfeld, the league’s legislative director, commended Tierney, McGovern and Markey “for their perfect voting records of representing the health and safety of Massachusetts citizens.”
“We also commend Sens. Kennedy and Kerry for their efforts to oppose the damaging energy bill and attempts to drill in the Arctic Refuge,” Sittenfeld said in a statement. “The entire delegation can be proud of the way they represented the interests of those they are elected to serve.”
McGovern has consistently scored 100 percent since he was first elected. Rep. John W. Olver (D-Amherst) scored 94 percent and Rep. William Delahunt (D-Hyannis) dropped 16 points to 78 percent.
“It’s no secret to anyone that I consider myself a strong environmentalist and I’m proud of that fact,” Mr. McGovern said in a telephone interview. “I think it’s important as a member of Congress to vote in a way that protects and preserves our environment. I take each issue as it comes and I vote the way I believe is the right way to vote.”
Deb Cary, director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Broad Meadow Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, said that Mr. McGovern has been “a very strong advocate since day one.”
Ms. Cary said that one of the first projects Mr. McGovern took on was restoring financial support to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides money to preserving trails and waterways.
“Until Jim McGovern was in Washington, those funds had completely dried up,” Ms. Cary said. “He’s really been a strong environmental advocate for all the lead environmental laws.”
Ms. Cary added Mr. McGovern has also been a leader locally on the Blackstone River and all the efforts from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to bring back the river.
U.S. Rep. John W. Olver’s score of 94 percent was a drop of 6 points. Mr. Olver accused the Bush Administration of “doing the bidding of special interests” in terms of environmental legislation but said that he was proud to have scored so well with the League.
“My voting record on environmental issues reflects my strong commitment to protecting the health of our environment and the beauty of our natural resources,” said Mr. Olver. “Almost every day, the Bush Administration takes another step – often not seen by the public – to undermine our environmental laws and regulations.”
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