WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a session of Congress that saw continued reliance on the failed energy policies of the past while ignoring common sense solutions to America's energy challenges, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) today released its 2006 National Environmental Scorecard.

 

Congressman Lynch received a perfect score of 100 percent. The national average was 48 percent for House members and 45 percent for Senators.  LCV has published the Scorecard for each Congress since 1970 to inform the public and hold members of Congress accountable for their votes on the environment. 

 

"LCV commends Representative Lynch for his perfect voting record to protect the environment and the health and safety of Massachusetts families,” LCV President Gene Karpinski said. "We applaud the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation for their efforts to protect America's coasts from the unnecessary threat of offshore drilling.”

 

Mr. Karpinski added, "The American people want our leaders in Washington to implement real solutions to our energy challenges, such as investing in renewable energy like wind and solar power, but most of this year's energy debate in Congress focused on backwards looking policies like offshore drilling.  It's time for Congress to harness America's ingenuity and technological know-how to promote clean energy that protects the environment and reinvigorates the economy.”

 

The National Environmental Scorecard - based on a scale of 0 to 100 - was scored on the number of pro-environment votes cast out of the total number of votes included.  Absences are counted as a negative vote. Among the votes included in the 2006 Scorecard are those on offshore drilling, drilling royalties, public health and environmental funding. 

 

To view the entire 2006 National Environmental Scorecard, visit www.lcv.org.

 

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The nonprofit League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the independent political voice for the environment.  To secure the environmental future of our planet, LCV's mission is to advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt and implement such policies.  For more information, please visit us on the web at www.lcv.org.