The report card on the North Carolina Congressional delegation’s 2014 performance is out, and most of the grades aren’t pretty. This week in CIB.
Washington Watch: NC’s Congressional Delegation Graded on 2014 Performance
Last week NCLCV released the environmental voting scores of the North Carolina Congressional delegation in 2014. Individual grades ranged from a low of 0% – Sen. Richard Burr – to a high of 100% – new Representative Alma Adams (NC12). These and the other grades represented legislators’ scores on the national League of Conservation Voters (LCV) National Environmental Scorecard of the key Congressional votes on environment, energy, and public health during 2014.
At the low end of the scale in addition to Burr, eight members of North Carolina’s U.S. House delegation earned atrocious scores of 3%: Representatives Renee Elmers (NC2), Virginia Foxx (NC5), Howard Coble (NC6), Richard Hudson (NC8), Robert Pittenger (NC9), Patrick McHenry (NC10), Mark Meadows (NC11), and George Holding (NC13). Joining Adams with strongly positive scores were Representatives G.K. Butterfield (NC1) with 91%, and David Price (NC4) with 97%.
“Once again, far too many members of Congress were complicit in extreme attacks on our environment,” said NCLCV Director of Governmental Affairs Dan Crawford. However, Crawford added, allies like Adams, Price, and Butterfield “stand out for putting North Carolina values first.” He added, “Despite last year being the hottest year on (global) record, members like Senator Burr and Congresswoman Elmers put their polluting allies first.”
The National Environmental Scorecard published by LCV has been the nationally accepted yardstick for rating members of Congress on environmental, public health, and clean energy issues for over 40 years. The full results of the 2014 Scorecard, including details on the votes scored and each members’ grade, can be found at scorecard.lcv.org.
Coast Watch: Offshore Drilling Comments Needed
North Carolina’s coast is under threat that its offshore waters may be opened to drilling for oil and gas. Earlier this year, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released its draft five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which includes waters off the North Carolina coast as potential lease grounds.
As noted in last week’s CIB, the BOEM public information session in Wrightsville Beach brought out hundreds of North Carolinians in opposition to offshore drilling. However, the public comment period on BOEM’s draft plan remains open through March 30, and we can anticipate a concerted effort by the oil industry and pro-drilling state officials to support hazardous drilling in our state’s sensitive offshore waters.
Along with other citizen conservation organizations, NCLCV is encouraging comments in defense of North Carolina’s coastal resources. Fact sheets on offshore drilling and the risks to our state’s coast, along with tips on how to comment, and a direct link to submit comments to BOEM, are available here.
This is not the first time North Carolina’s coast has faced the threat of offshore drilling. Coastal conservation advocates have helped to avert previous threats. The public’s voice in support of protecting our natural resources and coastal economy is needed again now.
Executive Watch: Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline
President Obama last week made good his threat to veto legislation mandating approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Senate would hold a vote on overriding the veto by March 3.
In his veto statement, Obama declared that the bill would “circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest…And because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short through consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest – including our security, safety, and environment – it has earned my veto.”
The national League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released a statement praising the veto. LCV president Gene Karpinski said, “We’re thrilled that President Obama has taken the very important step of vetoing the bill to approve the dirty and dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.” Karpinski expressed confidence that Obama would ultimately conclude that the pipeline’s permit application should be rejected on its merits.
Conservationists: Cooper Will Keynote Green Tie Awards
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has accepted NCLCV’s invitation to serve as the featured speaker at the 2015 Green Tie Awards. Cooper is a former Green Tie Award recipient. The Green Tie awards recognize legislators and other state leaders who have demonstrated strong support for the protection of North Carolina’s clean air and water, public health, and natural resources. The 2015 Green Tie Awards event will be held the evening of Wednesday, May 27 in Raleigh. Full details will be announced later.
That’s our report for this week.
