Connecticut Fares Well on Environmental Scorecard
SCORECARD
The New Britain Herald
Tia Albright
Boston University Washington News Service
October 11, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 –The League of Conservation Voters praised Connecticut’s congressional delegation Wednesday for their understanding and concern for environmental issues.
“The entire Connecticut delegation deserves recognition for understanding that we need to utilize new solutions to our energy problems, not backwards proposals like drilling in our nation’s last wild places,” said Gene Karpinski, the league’s president
Each year, the environmental advocacy organization rates each member of Congress according to how they acted on what the league views as key votes. This year the group rated seven Senate votes and a dozen House votes, including votes on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, low-income energy assistance, environmental funding and off-shore drilling.
Connecticut’s congressional delegation is ranked eighth, according to the league’s scoring.
Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson scored 83 percent this year, up from 56 percent last year. She voted with the league on 10 votes this year, but voted for amendments on food safety and oil refineries that the league opposed.
“Nancy is a recognized leader in Congress on protecting the environment,” said Brian Schubert, Johnson’s campaign spokesman. “It is why she has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters this year.”
Schubert said that Johnson led the fight to protect the upper Housatonic Valley as a national heritage area, shepherded her bill to protect the Farmington River through the House and led the fight against the Bush administration’s proposal to open a portion of the Arctic refuge for oil drilling.
In the Senate, Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman ranked high on the scorecard. Dodd was one of 112 members of Congress to receive a perfect 100 percent. Lieberman scored 71 percent, voting with the league on five votes and absent for two.
“I’m gratified that the League of Conservation Voters has identified my record as one strong on environmental issues,” Dodd said, “and I look forward to continuing my work to ensure that our waters stay clean, our air fresh and that our wildlife and greenery are protected.”
The league’s legislative director, Tiernan Sittenfeld,.said that Lieberman has been a continuing supporter of environmental issues and a champion in protecting the Arctic, and that he would have voted with the league on the two votes he missed while campaigning in the state.
The league has endorsed and financially contributed to candidates supporting environmental votes, including Johnson and Lieberman.
“Connecticut should definitely be proud of its record,” Sittenfeld said.
###
