Friday, November 10, 2006

Jon Tester, giving "energy" to the greener among us

Jon Tester wasn't the only candidate elected who ran on a platform palatable to conservationists, but his appeals to clean, renewable energy and protecting our untouched places so that we may enjoy them for recreation, hunting, and fishing were a good fit for the conservation-minded Westerners of Montana. According to his campaign website, "he will fight to protect access to public lands... will support responsible development of clean, renewable energy resources... to end America’s addiction to foreign oil, by investing in bio-fuel technology and wind power development, creating a national renewable standard and promoting energy efficiency and conservation."



Senator-elect Tester will be working on the other side of the Capital from another advocate of clean energy. Representative Chris Shays won a tough reelection battle, thanks in part to his green stances. Shays says, "I believe in a balanced, forward-looking energy policy that provides incentives to make renewable energy more affordable and widely available."

Here is an ad Rep. Shays' ad on energy issues.

The outlook for our government to pass energy legislation that focuses on clean energy is promising, but let's hold these guys to their words.

MW

Global Warming legislation a reality?

Well, the outlook sure looks better than it did on Monday. The AP reports that Senator Boxer pledges a shift on global warming policy,

"Time is running out, and we need to move forward on this," Boxer said of global warming during a conference call with reporters. "The states are beginning to take steps, and we need to take steps as well."

Boxer's elevation to chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Public Works Committee comes as the Democrats return to power in the Senate. It also marks a dramatic shift in ideology for the panel.

The California Democrat is one of the Senate's most liberal members and replaces one of the most conservative senators, Republican James Inhofe of Oklahoma. Inhofe had blocked bills seeking to cut the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, calling the issue "the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people."


Conservation organizations are definitely overjoyed at the ouster of skeptic-extraordinaire Sen. Inhofe, and looking forward to seeing what kind of legislation Sen. Boxer will bring before the committee. However, it is not our plan to simply wait and see. Conservationists have for too long "played defense," focusing all of our attention on blocking bad legislation instead of pushing forward on new, eco-friendly legislation. Now we have a chance to "play offense" and push our lawmakers to pass legislation that seriously addresses global warming. It is an opportunity that we as a community cannot waste.

MW

Thursday, November 09, 2006

So, where does it go from here?

The Democrats now have the House and Senate, and committee chairmanships will change across the board. Congressmen/women who are much more likely to push conservation friendly legislation in their committees are taking over these chairmanships, such as Nick Rahall in the House Resources Committee, Barbara Boxer at the Senate EPW, and James Oberstar at the Transportation and Infrastructutre Committee (all guesses at the moment... no official changes yet.) So what kind of legislation are you looking forward to seeing? What kind of movement in the environmental community do you think our government should take on in the next Congress?

MW

It's official

The Democrats will control the House and Senate in the 110th Congress. Conrad Burns, as expected, conceded earlier today, and at 3:00pm George Allen put to rest the possibility of a recount and conceded.

The conservation community did not have much success with Sens. Allen and Burns, to say the least. We congratulate Senators-elect Tester and Webb and look forward to working with them to keep our public lands open, protect endangered species, keep our air and water pollution free, and the fight global warming. Webb and Tester were endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters. They have prepared brief environmental outlines for them as well as the other endorsed candidates who won here.

MW

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Global Warming and Clean Energy: A Big Part of the Debate This Election

At every stump speech, every local fundraiser, every meet 'n greet, and every pancake breakfast candidates were giving us their insight into global warming and clean energy. Here are a couple highlights:

Senator-elect Bob Corker (R-TN)
The Knoxville News says he supports cleaner energy sources, including coal gasification, and using tax incentives and federal research grants to encourage the development, production and distribution of alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Corker says,
Every business and farm has energy costs such as gasoline, electricity, and more. Corker said America needs to rely less on oil from the Middle East to help bring down energy costs and increase productivity


Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL 10)
From the Daily Herald Mark says,
It should be the policy of the United States to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. In Congress, I voted to: raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards; close the loophole on light trucks and SUVs; continue the tax credits for the purchase of hybrid vehicles; accelerate production and deployment of clean E-85 (Ethanol 85%) fuel; increase research and development of hydrogen fuel cells; and end the 25-year moratorium on building new refineries.
Locally, I am working to increase the number of E-85 gas stations in Illinois and I support increased funding at Argonne National Laboratories for research and development of energy-efficient technology (e.g. solar and wind power).


Senator-elect Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
She says,
I will fight for a national strategy to address global warming and reduce greenhouse gases by developing renewable sources of fuel and by setting energy efficiency and emission standards that protect our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I will fight to expand incentives to encourage greater investment in renewable energy resources and technology. This is good for the world, for the nation, and it's good for Minnesota.


Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
From In Business Las Vegas
We need to get less dependent on fossil fuel so we that we can pursue modern technology that will provide alternative energy and lessen our dependence on fossil fuel.


Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM 01) (who holds a slim lead over Patricia Madrid)
From the Albuquerque Tribune,
We need a balanced, long term energy policy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, keep the lights on, and preserve the beauty of the land we love.


Representative-elect John Hall (D-NY 19)
He says,
I will be a strong voice on issues of global warming, renewable energy, clean water, clean air, open space, sustainable agriculture, truthful food labeling, wildlife protection and endangered species, destructive oil drilling, protection of our national parks, and the shameful appointments of industry lobbyists to regulatory agencies.


Jim Webb, candidate for Senate in Virginia (Webb is leading Allen by 7,000 votes as of right now... but we're probably looking at a recount)
He says,
Global warming is a serious threat and we must take serious steps to ensure we avoid this environmental catastrophe. I cannot say how I would vote on a hypothetical mandatory reduction. I believe we need to make a serious commitment to developing and deploying alternate energy technologies. I have been outspoken in my support for solar, wind and nuclear power. I support concrete measures such as raising CAFE standards and encouraging the use of bio-fuels and ethanol. I oppose drilling in ANWR, support repealing tax breaks for oil and gas companies and think we need to institute a windfall profit tax on Oil companies and use the revenue generated to invest in renewable technologies.


MW

And then there was one...

The AP is projecting Jon Tester to win the Montana Senate race, unseating incumbent Conrad Burns. Senator Burns had been plagued with questions about his ties to everyone's favorite lobbyist, Jack Abramoff (One of Abramoff's aides quipped to a reporter that "Sen. Burns would have starved were it not for us.")

The environmental community has long been at odds with the Senator, who has a dismal LCV score and has often voted to open public lands to drilling. Conservationists in Montana, it seems, have spoken by sending Jon Tester to the Senate.

Here is what Mr. Tester has to say about international policies on reducing global warming emissions,

I support responsible international action to limit global warming emissions, including a properly designed cap-and-trade system, and it is appropriate for industrialized nations to lead the way on international efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions. The United States must act in concert with other nations - industrialized and developing- to ensure that the economic costs of responsible actions on global warming do not accrue disproportionately to the United States.


The Senate now sits at 49 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and 2 Independents who both say will caucus with the Democrats. Senate control now hinges on the Virginia race, which, at the moment, Jim Webb holds by a roughly 7,000 vote margin.

MW

Pombo loses!

People may argue about how big a factor conservation issues were in the elections, but no one can dispute the fact that it was THE issue in this race. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) has sought to gut the Endangered Species Act, drill the Arctic and our coasts and sell of millions of acres of public lands.

We can only hope that this victory by renewable energy expert Jerry McNerney sends a message to the Republican caucus about the type of environmental policies it should pursue!

Big Upset in PA - Tidal Wave?

There were several races Dems were expected to pick up in PA. Rep. Melissa Hart's (R-PA) suburban Pittsburgh seat wasn't one of them. It looks like she has been defeated by relative newcomer Jason Altmire. While Hart recently gave National Wildlife Federation an opportunnity to brief her on the attitudes of hunters and anglers in PA on global warming (they think its real and that we need to take action) her anti-conservation voting record was out of step with her district. Does this loss mean a Democratic tidal wave approaching the upper 30's or a 40 seat pick-up? Quite possibly.

Interestingly, though, in PA's 6th and 8th congressional districts the Murphy-Gerlach and Murphy Fitzpatrick races are too close to call at this point with 100% of the precincts in. These are moderate GOP incumbents (Fitzpatrick was one of the few threatened Republicans endorsed by Sierra Club).

wyoming update

with 98% of the precincts reporting it stands at 49/48 with challenger gary trauner trailing by only 553 votes. there are still precints in carbon county and I understand 3400 absentee ballots in casper yet to be counted. so there is still a chance that incumbent barbara cubin loses. this would be great for protection of our public lands since cubin has tried to sell off our public lands twice. this one may go until tomorrow,,,,

sue brown

America's Message from the Elections:

Global Warming Emerges as National Priority

"America Wants a Clean Energy Future"

Surest Path to National Security & Climate Security

Statement by Larry Schweiger

President & CEO

National Wildlife Federation

Washington, DC (Nov. 8) "America's voters have delivered a clear message that the newly elected Congress must set the nation on a path to a clean energy future to address the joined priorities of national security and climate security.

"Energy independence in the form of a clean energy future is the common denominator linking concern about American military commitments in the Middle East, domestic job insecurity and the looming threat of global warming. A clean energy future means breaking America's addiction to foreign oil. It means creating a new generation of jobs developing the technologies and alternatives for cheaper, cleaner and safer energy supplies. And it means using the engine of free market innovation to confront global warming by steering the economy away from fossil fuels.

"America wants a clean energy future.

"The new Congress should take this charge on as a top priority. We need policies to create incentives for innovation. We need legislation to cap U.S. global warming pollution by sending market signals that it's cheaper to reduce the use of fossil fuels than it is to continue business as usual.

"Congress also needs to jolt the federal bureaucracy awake to recognize the imperative need for responses to global warming's cumulative threats of more intense hurricanes, more widespread drought, heat waves and wildfires, a rising sea level and added stress to the survival of wildlife.

"For its part, the Bush administration could make a start by ending its state of denial in which mere exhortations to industry to voluntarily reduce global warming pollution are intended to pass as policy adequate to the challenge.

"The test of those just elected will be to see if they can catch up to where the people who elected them are leading."

The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization inspiring people to protect wildlife for our children's future.

For Immediate Release:

November 8, 2006

Contact:

Adam Kolton: 202-797-6636

What about the Senate?

The House has switched party control, but where does it stand on the Senate? The Virginia race between Sen. Allen and Jim Webb is incredibly close with Jim Webb holding a razor thin margin. This will most likely come down to a recount. In Montana, Jon Tester holds a 14,000 vote lead over incumbent Conrad Burns with 29% of precincts reporting. Harold Ford is still sracping away at Bob Corker for Sen. Frist's seat. 94% of precincts reporting and Corker holds a 49,000 vote lead. Finally, the race in Missouri is shaping up to be the white-knuckled nail-biter everyone expected. Sen. Talent holds a 48,000 vote lead with 69% of precincts reporting. However, Democratic strongholds in Kansas City and St. Louis have yet to fully report.

No major news network knows what to do with these races. The Republicans need to hold two of these seats to hold the Senate. How will this end up? How will the results of these races affect the conservation communities' efforts?

My prediction... this will not be decided tonight. (Hey, I take the easy way out.)

MW

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Winding down...

The night is winding down, but there are still a bunch of races undecided. Fox News has called TX-22 for Nick Lampson, and CNN has called NY-29 for Randy Kuhl.

It looks like we're going to see a lot of recounts, pushing the official decisions back for a while. As for late closing polls, we are waiting on California (Rep. Pombo and Doolittle), Wyoming (Rep. Cubin), and Montana (Sen. Burns). Stay tuned...

MW

Bad Day for Exxon Mobil

Funny they've been running ads on CNN touting their vision for cleaner fuels. What have they acually been up to in the Congress? Funding phony global warming science, pushing for new drilling off our coasts, seeking continued subsidies and lax royalty enforcement from the federal government...89% of their political contributions in 2006 have gone to Republicans.

Well, at least they can take heart in one thing: they'll get lots of free publicity when Henry Waxman and John Dingell require them ti testify, frequently, before their respective House committees. Wonder if we'll finally learn who was in those secret energy task force meetings?!

A Democratic House

CNN now projects the Democrats to take the House. We will see a drastic change in the leadership and policy agenda coming from our very own House of Commons. Chairmanships will be switched on every committtee and subcommittee. Congressmen such as Richard Pombo will possibly be replaced by Nick Rahall or Ed Markey, both of which have a very different agenda when it comes to the environment.

We hope this new leadership will take a different route than its predecessorts and take it upon itself to address the threat of global warming.

MW

Florida Republican, and possible future leader on Global Warming, goes down

CNN has just called the FL-22 race for Ron Klein. Rep. Shaw and the National Wildlife Federation had recently formed a working relationship. Mr. Shaw help us set up a meeting with the Florida Delegation to discuss the adverse effects of global warming. Nonetheless, Rep. Shaw hadn't been on our side much before that. We look forward to working with Ron Klein on global warming, and the many other issues conservation in Florida. Here's what Mr. Klein had to say,

"“Reducing and ultimately eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels is the number one challenge of our country. … Shifting our energy supply from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable sources of energy is absolutely essential to the continued strength of our nation and our planet. I am proud to support the Climate Stewardship Act and I pledge to you that I will make it a priority as I fight in Congress for the creation of a 21st century energy policy”—Statement from Senator Ron Klein read to Project Hot Seat rally by Communications Director Brian Welsh on October 4, 2006

MW

And another one bites the dust

It seems incumbents in Pennsylvania are falling left and right. Rep. Don Sherwood, racked with personal issues, has been ousted by Chris Carney. Rep. Sherwood, with a lifetime LCV score of 8, hasn't made many friends in the conservation community, but has recently jumped in the global warming fight. Nonetheless, Chris Carney takes over his seat. Chris supports federal tax credits and additional funding for programs that encourage the adoption of renewable sources of energy like hybrid technologies, geothermal energy, biodiesel, solar energy, and wind power. "We must encourage conservation and make investments in new, clean sources of power."

MW

Taylor loses (Brunell next?)

Heath Shuler (former Redskins QB) beats Rep. Taylor, the chair of the EPA and Dept. of Interior Subcommittee for appropriations, who is almost single handedly responsible for cutting the budgets for many, many environmental programs. Money for the envionmental agencies will no longer be as tight as spandex on Richard Simmons deriere!
-JH & DB

Weldon in PA loses, Nancy Johnson in CT loses

Weldon, a Republican, had co-sponsored the Safe Climate Act (the strongest global warming legislation in congress), Johnson was the biggest Republican champ for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

But the incoming members have espoused strong environmental virtues and platforms.

Florida Gov. Decided

CNN calls race for Charlie Crist. The National Wildlife Federation's state affiliate, Florida Wildlife Federation, has a good relationship with Crist. He understands the need to address global warming. As a Floridian through and through, this is decent news. I'd really life my future children to see the Everglades.

Kristin

Guest Post

NWA: What do you think about the election results so far?
Brent Blackwelder, President Friends of the Earth, "Two big gains in senate by replacement of Mike Dewine in Ohio with Sherrod Brown, who's a champ on global trade and enviro issues, and the defeat of Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania, who has been a zero on the environment. I am feeling upbeat about environmental protections going forward."

Charlie Bass defeated by Hodes

CNN is reporting the defeat of moderate Republican Charlie Bass (R-NH). Bass along with Nancy Johnson (R-CT) probably did as much as anyone to protect the Arctic Refuge since President Bush was elected. I did some campaign work in NH in 2002 and Bass was a big winner against Hodes then. This one is a surprise. It wasn't even on the radar a few weeks back. What do we know about Hodes conservation platform?
- Adam Kolton

State initiatives/proposals

Any updates from the field on initiatives? Please post if you hear.

VA race nail biter

88% reporting 49% Webb and 50% Allen. Allen is rated as one of the worst environmental votes in the entire by League of Conservation Voters. fingers crossed that Webb pulls it out and brings a breath of clean air and water to the Senate...
sue

check in from the election party

well we are all crowded around tvs and computers awaiting the results. the room fills with cheers when CNN calls a race. So far, I feel there are some positive signs for wildlife. this might be election about change and right now change would be a very good thing for our conservation and wildlife issues. Can we change the mood of Congress when it comes to global warming, protecting public lands, endangered species, restoring our waters? Let's hope one of the take home messages from this election is Change. Change would be a good thing for wildlife since the what we have now sure isn't helping their forecast much....

sue brown

Polls closing...

At 10:00 polls will close in Montana, Nevada and Utah... as well as sections of a few other states.

While the conservation community has seemingly lost a champion in Lincoln Chafee, maybe Ben Cardin will take his place. Here is what he had to say about global warming, "I believe we must establish a comprehensive energy policy that will not only help consumers in the short term, but strengthen our nation's long-term energy supply and protect our environment. Today America imports almost 60 percent of her oil, yet rather than developing alternative, renewable resources or cutting back on our energy use by encouraging conservation, the Administration thinks the answer to this problem is to provide tax cuts for oil and gas companies, while exempting them from provisions of the Clean Water Act. I disagree. To have the greatest impact, our energy policy must create incentives to change behavior, both in the form of leveraging federal dollars to bring renewable energy options and energy efficient goods to consumers, and through the imposition of limits - including strengthening CAFÉ standards, creating a federal renewable portfolio standard, and requiring specific reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

It also appears Martin O'Malley has won the Gubernatorial election... according to CNN Governor Ehrlich did some very good things for the conservation community, including Chesapeake Bay restoration fee (aka the "Flsuh tax"), but he also attempted to sell off protected open spaces in southern Maryland to developers. Is this a win for the conservation community?

- Mike Williams

Donnelly wins, so says CNN

Climate change is one of the world's most pressing issues. We need to immediately and effectively address this issue and stop passing the problem on to our children and grandchildren.

Whitehouse projected as winner...

If so, we lose a huge wildlife champion in Lincoln Chafee. But, look forward in working with at least one Whitehouse.
DB

Another Democrat house pickup

Yarmuth is projected winner over Northup in Kentucky. Well if Ohio and Kentucky have made the switch to Democrats, it certainly seems plausible we are in the midst of sweep. You don't get much more true blue (well, true purple) America than OH and KY.

What does this mean for wildlife? Well remember, a switch in house leadership means some of the worst enviro members of congress are no longer heads of important enviro committees.

DB

Cardin projected winner....

even though Steele has a higher percentage of votes from the precincts reporting. Fingers crossed that exit polls are accurate!

Misleading Voters in Maryland

I witnessed the Ehrlich campaign attempts to confuse voters in Prince Georges County Maryland today. Busloads of people were brought in from Pennsylvania to distribute literature to voters in the guise of of a sample Democratic Party ballot, when it was a false Democratic sample ballot with Republican candidates selected in the literature. This kind of behavior is decietful and is not in the image of our American Democracy. This makes me terribly sad and frustrated. I understand why it is so hard to get citizens to vote.

Denise Ryan
NWF Staff
Public Land Team

Lieberman Wins

From strictly a conservation perspective this is good news. Lieberman has been out in front of most of his Senate colleagues on issues ranging from global warming to protection of our public lands. - Adam Kolton

Michigan Votes Granholm, Connecticut for Lieberman

Two threatened incumbants called as winners.

Two more Senate races called...

According to CNN...

Senator Stabenow keeps her seat.

A hearty welcome to Amy Klobuchar, a child advocate from Minnesota.

"I will fight for a national strategy to address global warming and reduce greenhouse gases by developing renewable sources of fuel and by setting energy efficiency and emission standards that protect our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I will fight to expand incentives to encourage greater investment in renewable energy resources and technology. This is good for the world, for the nation, and it's good for Minnesota.

so goes Ohio...

Has Ohio returned to its roots? I know many of you think we are a red state. Even I gave up hope after the last couple of elections. My question is, so goes Ohio so goes the nation?

Claudia (canton) Malloy

Sherrod Brown wins

CNN is calling the Ohio Senate race for Sherrod Brown.

A plus in the fight against global warming

"While the EPA acknowledges that a warming trend of about one degree Fahrenheit has been recorded since the late 19th century, scientists have not decisively concluded the cause of this trend." - Senator Santorum

"The science is telling us that we must slow, stop, and reverse the emission of global warming pollution. Our policies should follow the science." - Bob Casey



Mike Williams

Casey Wins!!!!

Santorum loses according to the associated press

Wheeeee!!!

Incumbents returning

CNN projects Sens. Menendez, Kennedy (um, duh), Snowe, and Nelson (FL) to keep their seats.

George Allen is #1... well 1% for the environment

I just got back from educating Virginians on the fact that George Allen has the worst lifetime environment voting record of any current senator according to League of Conservation Voters. That's right Sen. Allen has a whooping 1% record in voting for the environment. If a passing grade is 65%, then Allen is... well.. um, failing?

Right now it's 50% to 49%, with 52% reporting... I think this will be a long night!

-Derek Brockbank

For your viewing pleasure...

Environmental ads!

Some more races called

Fox news supposedly is calling the IN-08 for Sherrif Brad Ellsworth. While we are unsure how Sherriff Ellsworth will vote on conservation issues, particularly global warming (his website mentions nothing on the subject), we do know that Rep. Hostettler (the incumbent) has not been with the environmental community. LCV gives him an 11% lifetime score... not too good

CNN is projecting Deval Patrick and Ted Strickland to be the new Governors of Massachusetts and Ohio, respectively. Check what Grist had to say about Strickland and Patrick. Hopefully Patrick and Strickland will follow Governor Schwarzenegger's lead and we will see some new dedication to statewide efforts to fight global warming.

Mike Williams

Update

I just heard a report that in Pikesville, MD, at 7:30, the line is out the door. This city, in the middle of Baltimore County is Rep. Cardin's home area. Large turnout in such a region bodes well for Democrats... although since it is Rep. Cardin's area, it may not be overly indicative of statewide results.

It's almost 8:00 and polls will soon be closing in 16 states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (most of state), Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Mike Williams

2006 Environmental Election Night Party!

Good evening from The Wilderness Society!

Polls have closed in Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. So far CNN projects a bunch of races, you can check it out here. The only races that were considered to be anything close to a "swing" were in Vermont, where it seems like Rep. Bernie Sanders, the House's self-proclaimed Socialist will now be in the Senate. Peter Welch looks like he will be taking over for Bernie, according to CNN, defeating Martha Rainville for the race for Vermont's At-Large House seat.

Bernie will add an independent and unique voice to the Senate, and should continue Sen. Jeffords fine record on environmental issues. We look forward to working with him. We also look forward to fighting global warming with Peter Welch who says he plans to be a leader on the issue.

Don't forget, we will be here all night discussing the election results as they relate to conservation and global warming. Stay tuned!

Mike Williams

The Wind is At Our Backs!

Conservation issues may not be as high on voters minds as the war in Iraq or the economy, but it's incredibly encouraging to see the extent to which candidates from both parties are beginning to speak out about confronting global warming and pushing for a cleaner, safer, cheaper energy policy that will end our addiction to oil. In Ohio Senate Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown talks about making that state the Silicon Valley or energy alternatives while his opponent, incumbent Senator Mike DeWine, touts his record opposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In another industrial coal state Pennsylvania incumbent Governor Ed Rendell has made renewable energy a major part of his campaign for re-election. Wind energy entrepreneur Jerry McNerney, a Democrat, is running against House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo on a plank of making California's San Joaquin County a hub for alternative energy through federal research and development incentives. In Rhode Island, incumbent Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee has trumpeted his bipartisan work to seek binding limits on carbon emissions from power plants.

How are conservation issues playing in the races in your state? Has the windmill symbolically replaced the drilling rig in the debate about our energy future? Please let us know.

- Adam Kolton

Some links you might enjoy

For those of you who want to follow the polls closing times, check out this great chart.

Also, you can show your dedication to conservation by wearing one of our "I'm Voting for..." stickers!

- Mike Williams

Voted!

Wheeee! I voted. I was at my local elementary school at ten past seven this morning, waited in the obligatory 25 minute line, and then cast my ballot for mayor, school board chair, and non-voting US Representive.

That's right - non-voting US Representive.

For those of you who don't know (or have forgotten), the 572,000+ full time residents of DC do not have a voting representation in either the US House of Representatives or the US Senate. Taxation without representation, anyone?

(Just as a comparison, the 490,000 residents of Wyoming have both senators and a member of congress. Incidentally, their member of congress, Barbara Cubin, has one of the worst environmental records in congress according to LCV, which National Wildlife Action has been working to expose for the past 2 months.)

I bring this up not to complain, but to remind everyone of the privilege of voting. Billions of people around the world and half a million citizens of the United States do not have the right to an elected representative. Don't pass up this privilege, use it, relish it, and encourage others to do so also!

-Derek Brockbank

Monday, November 06, 2006

Vote

Election day is upon us, and after an "off year" (with only, you know, elections for the Governorships of Virginia and New Jersey, and Mayors of New York and Los Angeles, as well as countless local elections across the country) we have reached the infamous "year-six midterm." Historically, the party of the sitting President in year six loses seats by rather sizable margins (except for Clinton, but that was more due to a rebuff of certain decisions by the Republicans).

Tomorrow is President Bush's year-six midterm. He has had a Republican controlled House and Senate his whole six years, save for the Jeffords break in the 107th Congress. Many votes have come down that address issues the conservation community cares about: energy policies, public lands issues, global warming resolutions. Some were favorable, others were not. Tomorrow, it's your turn. What issues will be driving you at the voting booth? Global Warming? Public Lands protection? Cleaning up our waters?

- Mike Williams