LCV Live

LCV in the News

2008-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Health News Digest compares the Environmental Agendas of the two presidential candidates and concludes that "Obama is clearly the greener candidate" .

Jessica Catlin, Board President for Arizona League of Conservation Voters "offers citizens one more way you can help the environment: Vote."

Michigan League of Conservation Voters endorses Mark Richardson for State Representative

LCV Endorses Obama in Colorado

2008-07-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

Colorado native and LCV Senior Vice President Political Affairs and Public Education Tony Massaro joined former Secretary of Energy Federico Peña and Congressman Ed Perlmutter at Confluence Park to make the announcement and take questions.

Gene posts on The Hill blog

2008-07-21T13:00:00.001-07:00

Gene Karpinski explains in The Hill why LCV is proud to endorse Barack Obama...click here

LCV Endorses Obama in Michigan, photos coming in...

2008-07-21T09:35:00.001-07:00

That's LCV's Campaigns Project Manager, Kerry Duggan, at the podium along with (from left to right) LCV Board Member and environmental leader Lana Pollack, congressional candidate Gary Peters, and County Commissioner David Woodward at a the construction site of a green home in Oakland County.

Obama Events Underway

2008-07-21T08:51:00.001-07:00

Carol Browner, LCV Board Member and Former EPA Administrator, at the announcement event in Washington, DC.

Stay tuned for updates from the other events going on nationwide...

Endorsement Events Across the Nation Today

2008-07-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today, at events in Washington, DC; Denver, CO; Santa Fe, NM; Cincinnati, OH; Bloomfield Hills, MI, and Missoula, MT, LCV will announce our endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for President.

At these events, LCV representatives and members will be joined by several prominent environmental champions, including former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, Governor Bill Richardson, and former Energy Secretary Federico Peña.

Check back throughout the day for photos and stories from the events!

Gore remains inspiration to LCV policy team

2008-07-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

We were treated yesterday to a momentous and inspirational speech in downtown DC by former Vice President Al Gore. He challenged the American people to revolutionize our country by switching to 100% renewable energy sources within ten years.

His words were informative and backed by facts from world famous scientists and energy entrepreneurs. His is a truly thoughtful solution to the threat of global climate change. The message was confident, simple, and truthful, that the audience could not help but be inspired and rejuvenated with new hope for the energy future of our planet.

On another front, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid showed great leadership this week by continuing to stand firm against the pro-drilling lobby backed by the oil and gas industry. Our environmental champions continue to fight hard to protect our coasts and pass clean energy legislation that will create jobs, save us money, and combat global climate change.

Policy & Lobbying

2008-07-16T09:42:00.001-07:00

Monday, in a statement made from the White House Rose Garden, President Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore oil drilling that his father put in place when he was president.

Drilling on the outer continental shelf (OCS) is being falsely pitched as a short term, immediate fix to high gas prices, when in fact any resulting leases will not be in production until 2017 and relief at the gas station will be minimal. Most estimates put the price decrease at around four cents per gallon.

Fortunately, our coasts are still protected by a legislative moratorium. Although Big Oil allies in Congress would like to do away with that too. Legislation proposing to lift the moratorium could come in the form of a stand-alone bill or an amendment to any number of land or energy bills.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has introduced an energy bill that would open the OCS to drilling and also gives states the right to reject the sale of leases off their coasts. LCV strongly opposes this bill for many reasons, including that spills or leaks may occur off the coast of one state can easily travel elsewhere by way of wind and ocean currents. It should also be obvious that marine animals, including economically valuable fish species, do not respect state boundaries. Most importantly, the Energy Information Administration predicts that drilling on the OCS will not reach peak production until 2025 and when it does it will account for less than one percent of daily demand in the United States. Protecting our rich coastal ecosystems should take priority over such minimal supply gains.

Republican Senators Stevens and Murkowski of Alaska also plan to introduce language either as a standalone bill or an amendment that would open 1.5 million acres on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. LCV also strongly opposes drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

Newt Gingrich is expected to drop off a petition on Capitol Hill this week with around 1.2 million signatures asking Congress, “to lower gas prices by authorizing the exploration of proven energy reserves”. In comparison, Governors of six coastal states, representing 65.8 million constituents, have asked Congress not to lift the OCS moratorium. Gingrich has been leading a campaign entitled “Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.” This campaign has been funded by Big Oil for Big Oil. For more information see the article, ‘Destroy Here? Destroy Now? Gone Forever?’ at Alaska Wilderness League and follow the link to their fact sheet (www.alaskawild.org).

More drilling is not part of the global warming solution and can only increase our dependence on fossil fuels. While gas prices remain high it is expected that proposals will continue from pro-drilling members of Congress, but LCV is working hard to point out commonsense solutions like releasing oil from the 700 million barrels in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and continue investments in alternative energy sources.

Bush Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling, but Does Nothing to Save Americans Money at the Pump

2008-07-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

Gas prices have reached absurdly high levels, everyone can agree on that. The solution to this national emergency, however, is a debate that has divided this Congress along party lines and distinguished environmental champions from profit seeking oil cronies.

President Bush has made his position clear over these past 8 years, and today he takes a step further in support of Big Oil to repeal the executive ban put into place by his father on offshore drilling.

His misguided resolution is one that has grave long-term effects, but fails to deliver any short-term relief for Americans at the pump.

The help that our nation needs to get out of this energy crisis comes in a plan backed by facts that will release Big Oil’s strangling grip on our wallets and protect us and our environment from the harmful consequences of over drilling.
The reality is that America’s supply (less than 3% of world oil reserves) can't possibly keep up with our demand (25% of world oil consumption). A few drops of oil, up to a decade away from making it to market, cannot alleviate our pain at the pump.
As it is, suppliers of oil and gas are sitting on almost 70 million acres of proven reserves, over 40 million of which are offshore. The have permission to drill there, but aren’t. As long as gas prices continue to rise, so does the value of those reserves.

America needs consumer choices, innovations to fuel our ingenuity, and alternatives that will cut our addiction to oil and put jobs and money back into the hands of working families. Short term relief will come in eliminating the record profits of Big Oil, cutting their money saving subsidies, and giving rebates to those who have been hurting most from high gas prices.

Stop rising costs at the pump by knowing which solution will deliver results. Protect our environment from irresponsible drilling, and rescue America from our energy crisis.

To read the AP article on Bush's lift of the executive ban on offshore drilling, which cites LCV President Gene Karpinski, go here.

50% by 2050 is Not Good Enough

2008-07-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

G-8 leaders at a summit in Toyako on Tuesday pledged to reduce emissions 50% by 2050. While this is the first time that world leaders embraced a goal to cut emissions, their ambitions fall short of their intended efforts to combat global warming.

The effects of global climate change are apparent now. The consequences require immediate action, not a leisurely attempt in the hopes of having the problem disappear in 42 years.

The goal also did not specify a base year for the proposed cuts, which could lead to unstable and uncertain environmental effects.

The target is weak, slow, and insufficient in mitigating the already present results of our addiction to fossil fuels and our readiness to release harmful toxins into the atmosphere.

Cheney Edits Testimony on Consequences of Climate Change on Public Health

2008-07-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post reported yesterday, in an attempt to play down the facts on the harmful impact of global warming, the office of Vice President Dick Cheney pushed to delete references to the consequences of climate change on public health from congressional testimony.

The proposed testimony came last October from Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Julie Gerberding.

The White House explanation for the edited testimony came in alleged concerns in the accuracy of the science by advisor John Marburger of the White House Office of Science & Technology.

Jason Bernett, former senior EPA official, claimed in a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, that the White House was concerned that the testimony might make it harder to avoid regulating greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Hiding the truth has become a terrifying habit of this administration. Their failure to put the safety of the American public before their ties to the oil and gas industries is an embarrassment to the oaths that they took to serve the best interests of the nation.

The evidence is in the science that has been indisputable for years. The devastating implications of global warming must be addressed, and the administration is doing everything in its power to make sure that they are not.

To read the Washington Post article, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070801442.html

The Cartoon is from Roll Call

Dirty Dozen Announcement

2008-07-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

In all of the fun, fireworks, and excitement of July 4th in Washington, DC, I forgot to post the latest news from LCV.

On Tuesday, July 1st, two new members were added to the LCV Dirty Dozen, Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

Pearce has a lifetime LCV score of 1% and has voted against the environment in 79 of the 80 votes since he has been elected. He is running for Senate in New Mexico against environmental champion, Tom Udall, who has earned a 96% lifetime LCV score.

His alliance with Big Oil has led him to be a constant supporter of drilling, including in Otero Mesa in southern New Mexico, where the largest lease-holder, Yates Petroleum, also happens to be the largest single contributor to Pearce’s finances.

In Louisiana, Landrieu’s lack of policy in the fight against global warming threatens the safety of her constituents, for whom rising sea level and increasingly intense storms are a devastating reality.

She regularly votes to further the inflated profits of the oil and gas industry, constantly over looking solutions that could save American families money on energy and gas.

To read the release from LCV on Steve Pearce, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-adds-congressman-steve-pearce-to-the-2008-dirty-dozen.html

To read the release from LCV on Mary Landrieu, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/senator-mary-landrieu-added-to-lcv-s-dirty-dozen.html

Policy & Lobbying

2008-07-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

Congress returns to session this week after its 4th of July recess, during which most Members heard numerous concerns from constituents suffering due to high gas prices. This spells bad news for the next four to five weeks, as environmentally damaging bills are likely to come up every week until the August recess. Most of these will be in the form of drilling in one form or another. However, this week the bill on the table will probably be H.R. 2208, the Liquid Coal Fuel Act, also a pretty bad idea both environmentally and economically.

These misguided and Big Coal/Oil-prejudiced policies will do nothing to reduce the price of gas, but some in Congress will continue to sound that horn rather than working to offer a wider suite of energy options to American consumers. Only with greater market diversification, increased availability of other forms of energy, and improved transit will consumers find relief from escalating gas prices. So far however, Congress has been deadlocked, largely due to the desire of many to score political points in an election year.

A bill repealing the moratorium on drilling in the outer continental shelf (OCS) will likely be sent to the Appropriations Committee for mark-up on either Wednesday or Thursday. The Committee should consider sternly the environmental damage such a bill would do and the minimal likelihood that it would accomplish anything on behalf of the American public. The more likely result is yet more record-breaking profits for oil companies. Thankfully, the facts are on our side, and it is only the misdirection of those in league with Big Oil that are standing between environmental degradation and the continued preservation of a vital moratorium.

With the US at 25% of world oil consumption and only 2% of reserves in our control, there is no logic to suggest that increasing drilling provides either a short or a long-term solution to the problem of high prices. It is now on the backs of Congress to remain strong in the coming weeks to both preserve our environment and appropriately tackle high gas prices. Even John McCain, who tries to paint himself as an environmentalist despite a woeful League of Conservation Voters lifetime score of 24%, admits that some of his Big Oil-friendly suggestions offer merely "psychological" help for Americans.

LCV in the News

2008-07-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

Washington State Conservation Voters release 2007-08 scorecard

Tony Massaro’s July 4 Letter to the Editor in the Rocky Mountain News spells out why voters prefer Mark Udall to represent Colorado

Grist details RNC’s $3 million independent expenditure focused on energy issues and paid for by Big Oil

Energy is the issue currently dominating New Mexico’s U.S. Senate race between Democrat Tom Udall and Republican Steve Pearce, says New Mexico blogger Heath Haussamen

Post From the Policy & Lobbying Side of LCV

2008-07-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

LCV's Policy and Lobbying department is going to start guest-blogging on LCVlive about the day-to-day developments of environmental priorities on the Hill.

As most of LCVlive's readers likely know, the biggest environmental action on the Hill recently was Warner-Lieberman bill, also known as the Climate Safety Act. This piece of legislation would have been the first global warming legislation in the history of the country. The bill established a market-based cap-and-trade system limiting global warming, mirroring on the federal level what almost 30 states are implementing in some fashion. The bill stalled when the Senate voted 48-36 to end debate. Some post-game thoughts:

Joe Lieberman, who has co-sponsored global warming legislation in the past, found an unlikely ally in his bi-partisan co-sponsor John Warner. Warner, a retiring Virginia senator who has historically voted against global warming legislation, rethought his position when his young grandchildren urged him to do something about the problem. The pair, along with Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer, showed tremendous leadership in driving this legislation. The environmental community, including LCV, worked hard throughout the process to strengthen the act by upping targets to where science says we need to be and ensuring the proceeds went to public benefit instead of polluters, while fighting against bad amendments such as subsidies for the nuclear industry or a "safety valve" which would effectively curtail the bill if gas prices reached a certain price.

However, a group of anti-environment Senators, with Jim Inhofe and Mitch McConnell leading the charge, resorted to cheap obstructionist tactics. In a move that you'd think would only happen in Hollywood, these Senators made the clerks read the entire 492-page bill aloud, which took 10 hours.

In spite of this, 54 senators voted or issued statements in support of continuing the debate. This is great progress, since the last global warming vote we had 38 Senators voting in favor of global warming legislation. Clearly, however, we still have work to do, and one of the most important steps is that we need to elect pro-environment candidates in 2008.

LCV in the News

2008-06-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

LCV in the News

Rocky Mountain News attributed part of Mark Udall’s success in the Quinnipiac poll to the ad campaign launched by LCV, “linking Schaffer with the excesses of Big Oil.”

Red, Green & Blue & Grist cover the launching of Give Green, the new bundling website put out by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund on Friday.

Senator Lamar Alexander tried to defend his environmental record, which earned him a 33% LCV score in 2007. Deputy Legislative Director, Tim Greeff tells the Senator to live up to his words.

New Ads From the DCCC Echo the LCV Message

2008-06-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

The ad calls out members of Congress who voted in support of "The Big Oil Energy Agenda".

To hear the ad that is set to launch today on the radio in 13 Congressional Districts, go to: http://www.dccc.org/pages/dccc_launches_independence_day_radio_ad_campaign

Give Green

2008-06-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Today the LCV Action Fund launched Give Green, a bundling website designed to be similar to ActBlue and EMILY’s List. The purpose of this new site is to raise money for environmental champions and candidates from both parties.

Give Green features 21 candidates on the federal level, and provides a one stop shop way to contribute to those who are on record for being good on environmental issues and who will fight in Congress for a clean, renewable energy future.

As of this afternoon the site has gathered 37 supporters and raised over $8,600.

To visit the site and contribute to your favorite Green candidates, go to: www.givegreen.lcv.org

To read the release from LCV on Give Green, go to:
http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-action-fund-launches-give-green.html

3 Year Hold on Mining in the Grand Canyon

2008-06-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Today the House Natural Resources Committee voted 20-2 to withdraw the public land around the Grand Canyon from mining for uranium to fuel power plants for three years.

“This vote is a battle won in the longer fight for comprehensive reform,” said LCV Legislative Associate Hasan Nazar.

The implications, had the mining been allowed to proceed, would have included unforeseen damage to the one million acres of natural landscape that has become a national landmark, the contamination of the Colorado River, and the risk of increased instances of cancer and birth defects for the surrounding residents and miners.

The question of drilling in the area surrounding the Grand Canyon has been debated since the Gold Rush. The Mining Act of 1872 set the first precedent by authorizing and governing mining for economic minerals on federal public lands. Recently, however, people like Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley have testified before the Committee on Energy & Natural Resources to ban mining, revealing that, “decades after mining has ceased on the Navajo Nation, my people continue to get sick and die from the contamination left behind. The legacy of uranium mining has devastated both the people and the land.”

Following this vote, the next step lays in the hands of the Secretary of the Interior who has the authority to determine that the emergency exists.

LCV Endorsements

2008-06-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Today, LCV President Gene Karpinski joined Mary Jo Kilroy in Columbus, Ohio to give her our endorsement in the election for the 15^th Congressional District. They met for an event highlighting the challenge of global warming and the potential of clean energy.

Also out of the office today was LCV Deputy Legislative Director Tim Greeff, who joined Andrew Rice at the Bergey Wind Power Co. in Norman, Oklahoma to give him our endorsement for the U.S. Senate.

Both Kilroy and Rice, as state legislators, have a history of making the environment a priority in their respective district and state. Their commitment to supporting alternative energy development on a national level will stimulate much needed change in Congress as LCV works towards electing pro-environment members and attain a 60-vote filibuster proof majority in the Senate.

To read LCV’s release on the endorsement of Andrew Rice, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-andrew-rice-for-senate.html

To read LCV’s release on the endorsement of Mary Jo Kilroy, go to:

http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-mary-jo-kilroy-in-ohio-s-15th-congressional-district.html

What a week!

2008-06-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, LCV-endorsed candidate Donna Edwards won the special election in Maryland’s 4th District. On Wednesday, everyone in the office went to the Hill for our 2nd annual Lobby Day to meet with 49 Representatives and Senators. Yesterday we were privilege to sit in on the swearing in of the newest Congressional member, Donna Edwards.

LCV is exhausted and ready for the weekend!

Coming up on Monday, LCV President Gene Karpinski will be traveling to Columbus, Ohio to make an endorsement announcement. Stay tuned…

Congresswoman Edwards Sworn In

2008-06-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Donna Edwards took the oath of office as Congresswoman of Maryland’s 4th Congressional District at the Capitol. She takes her position as the first African-American woman elected to Congress from the state of Maryland, and the first LCV Board member to be elected to Congress, serving on the boards of both LCV and the Maryland LCV.

At the swearing in of Donna Edwards, the House floor was filled with her colleagues, who stayed after an amendment vote to show their support for their newest member. She was hugged and greeted by members on both sides of the aisle, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and outgoing Rep. Al Wynn, who introduced her to the House and welcomed her into the Maryland delegation of representatives.

Above the floor, the public seating was packed with supporters of Donna Edwards who welcomed her into the room with waves and a standing ovation. She brought a message of change in her first words as Congresswoman. She vowed to be a representative to all walks of life and to start the job “with her sleeves rolled up and ready to work.”

Following her swearing in, she was greeted by the very supporters who stood by her throughout her campaign. The reception that she held in the Capitol was filled with the warmness of a jazz band, good food, and old friends.

As Donna Edwards begins her service to Maryland’s 4th district and the nation as a whole, she brings her leadership in energy and environmental issues to Congress and starts off the expansion to a pro-environment majority.

Second Annual Lobby Day a Success!

2008-06-18T22:26:00.001-07:00

Today marked the second annual LCV Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, where members of our Board, staffers and supporters of state LCVs across the country met with members of Congress and their staff members.

The big topics of the day were global warming legislation and the steps that, together, we can take to actively address our dependence on oil and the impacts of climate change.

We were honored to get a breakfast briefing from a longtime environmental champion, Congressman Henry Waxman of California. Then, in a whirlwind circuit around the Hill from the House side of the U.S. Capitol to the Senate side and back -- several times -- LCV met with 49 other members, including league-endorsed Rep. Jerry McNerney and and Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Mark Udall.

A special shout out to a pair of our champs, Sens. Barbara Boxer and Jon Tester, for making time to meet with us on this important day.

Today LCV was able to voice your support for strong global warming legislation and the Clean Water Restoration Act directly with members of Congress and forge relationships on both sides of the aisle that will be key to passing strong legislation this year.

(photos from today, below)

An Online Voice for the Environment

2008-06-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

Late last year LCV launched a new website and this year we’re using online communications tools to a greater degree than ever before in order to spread our pro-environment message and connect like-minded activists.

The online communication tools that we use are meant to incite action in our supporters to advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect candidates who will do the same.

We’re always open to your feedback. Click here or comment on this post. Let us know if you think we’re using the web in an effective manner. What do you like seeing on LCV.org and our family of sites? What do you want to see more of? Or less of?

You can be a voice for the environment in your own community, too. Write letters to the editors of local papers. Tell your friends about LCV. Most importantly, collect your best photos -- we’re working on a Flickr group to share all our photos online in one place. Check back soon to see how you can share your passion with our growing online community.

We look forward to hearing from you!

LCV Endorses Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

2008-06-12T13:35:00.001-07:00

Today LCV endorsed Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona for reelection in the 8^th District. Giffords has dedicated her career to protecting Arizona’s natural heritage and has worked tirelessly to expand solar energy, creating green jobs throughout her state.

She earned herself a 95% LCV score in 2007 and a 100% lifetime score from the Arizona LCV as a state legislator for 4 years.

Tim Greeff, LCV Deputy Legislative Director, was with Giffords yesterday to giver her the endorsement. “She has become one of the great champions of clean energy and of protecting our planet for future generations,” Tim said. “America needs more leaders like Gabrielle Giffords.”

To read LCV’s release on the endorsement, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords.html