The League of Conservation voters recently released its National Environmental Scorecard, which rates members of Congress based on how often their votes supported environmental protection measures. Personally, I’m a sucker for credible reports that hold members of Congress accountable for their actions.
Five representatives in Congress from Michigan and both U.S. Senators earned a score of 85 percent or greater on the 2012 Scorecard (meaning they voted in favor of environmental protection measures 85 percent of the time). Seven other House members earned a score of 10 percent or less.
The ferry SS Badger has dumped its coal ash into Lake Michigan for decades.
One of the lowest scoring members of Congress happened to be the politician who represents my community and much of West Michigan: U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga. He received a score of 11 percent. I’m guessing that Huizenga’s brazen attempt to manipulate the federal bureaucracy so that the SS Badger ferry could continue to dump filthy coal ash into Lake Michigan had something to do with his poor showing. (Go here to read more about that issue.)
Go here to see how your representatives in Congress voted on environmental issues, which are hugely important issue for Michigan’s economy and quality of life.
These types of scorecards are so subjective as to be worthless. I refuse to rely on any outside group for information, you have to keep track of your elected officials votes yourself. They may vote against a budget item that does include some good things, but the overall package may be so onerous that it make sense to vote against the package.
Reblogged this on Keepers of the Water.
Reblogged this on The Outdoor Journal.
Be sure to check out all the voting records of the Michigan Republicans promoted by the NRA. Michigan Republican votes have been the most anti-sportsman hunting/fishing/trapping in history of Michigan. Fish need clean water and the NRA Republicans vote for the anti DEQ/DNR polluters, the hunters need biodiversity habitats for wildlife and the NRA Republicans vote for SB0078(2013). Now the NRA Republicans are capping and working to steal the NRTF money from the Michigan sportsmen to stop public access and recreation. The scorecards and the Lansing voting records of the NRA Republicans at http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ speak for themselves. The NRA Republicans are documented anti Michigan Sportsmen.
Reblogged this on The Dynamic Great Lakes Blog.