Scorecard Names "Greenest Republicans in Congress"

July 14, 2010

Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP) today released its fifth annual Congressional Scorecard rating the environmental performance of Republicans in Congress.

Three New Jersey congressmen – Leonard Lance (7th District), Frank LoBiondo (2nd District), and Christopher Smith (4th District) shared top honors as the "Greenest Republicans in Congress" for 2009.

All three had perfect records on the floor votes that REP scored, and they received additional credits for environmental leadership, resulting in scores of 103 for all three.

The scorecard is available online at: http://www.rep.org/scorecard.html. The scorecard ratings are based on floor votes cast during 2009. Ten votes were rated in the Senate and 18 in the House.

"We are proud of the accomplishments of Congressmen Lance, LoBiondo, and Smith, but we are not surprised. New Jersey’s Republican House delegation regularly outperforms the rest of the nation in supporting the strongest possible protections for public health and for our natural heritage. If there is one state where Republicans consistently adhere to the principle that conservation is conservative, it’s New Jersey," REP President Rob Sisson said.

The overall environmental performance of Republicans in Congress comparing 2008 to 2009 was mixed. The House Republican average increased from 25 percent in 2008 to 33 percent in 2009. Average Senate scores, however, decreased from a spike of 54 percent in 2008 to 36 percent in 2009. Ten Senate floor votes were scored.

Other top scorers include Representative Dave Reichert (WA-8th District) with 97, Senator Susan Collins (ME) with 95, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18th District) with 94, and Senator Olympia Snowe (ME) with 90.

Two top GOP Senate contenders, Representatives Mark Kirk (IL-10th District) and Mike Castle (DE-At Large) both earned a very solid score of 86.

"With Republicans looking to make significant gains in the 2010 elections, it is more important than ever for Republicans to embrace a strong stewardship ethic and to propose real solutions that will ensure a healthy environment, conserve our land, waters, and wildlife, and move America toward a cleaner energy future. If they take up the challenge responsibly, they can look forward to lasting support from voters," REP Vice President for Government and Political Affairs David Jenkins said.

Too many Republicans had low scores. The lowest scoring member in the House was Representative Ron Paul (TX-14th District), who scored 0. In the Senate, the low achievers were Tom Coburn (OK) and Jim DeMint (SC), who scored minus 5. *

"Our scorecard is an essential tool for tracking our party’s environmental performance and a measure of REP’s progress toward its mission of restoring natural resource conservation and sound environmental protection as fundamental elements of the Republican Party's vision for America," REP Vice President for Policy and Communications Jim DiPeso said.

*The REP Congressional Scorecard rates GOP lawmakers on a scale of 0 to 100. However, scores can fall below zero or exceed 100 based on credits or demerits received for significant non-voting actions demonstrating either positive or negative leadership on environmental issues.