Has partisanship become a determining factor in protecting Michigan's environment?
The Michigan League of Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan organization that works to elect solid conservation-minded candidates to office at all levels of government here in THE Great Lakes state.
Our board includes Republicans and Democrats. We work hard to seek a balance in our endorsements. Current prominent Republican board members include: Former Congressman Joe Schwarz, the Executive Director of Republicans for Environmental Protection Rob Sisson, and former Republican candidate for Attorney General Bill Farr.
As an organization, we look for individuals who are dedicated to protecting our Great Lakes, investing in clean energy jobs, and working to keep toxic chemicals out of children's products. In the primary this year, we were able to find three committed conservation/environmental Republicans including Kim Russell, John McNeil and Rick Snyder. Over the past few years, however, our job seems to be getting more and more challenging on the Republican side of the aisle.
Call me crazy, but partisanship should not be a determining factor in protecting Michigan's environment. Yet, in many cases, that's exactly what's happening. Few seem to remember that many GOP leaders of the past fought to save natural treasures, signed landmark environmental-protection laws, and established many of the policies we take for granted today.
Governor Milliken helped spearhead the Michigan Environmental Protection Act and our state's Bottle Bill. President Teddy Roosevelt established our unmatched system of wildlife refuges and national parks. President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and established the Environmental Protection Agency. The Republicans found on many parts of the Michigan 2010 ballot, however, are at the far end of the spectrum, with no fundamental commitment to natural resources protection.
Throw in the towel? No. Michigan LCV would never do that. But, there's also an interesting phenomenon taking place.
In Michigan this year, smart, moderate Republicans have begun to call their leaders out on their lack of commitment to protecting our "Pure Michigan." In fact, some have been so bold as to publicly endorse the Democratic opponent. In the south central portion of the state, for example, Joe Schwarz publicly endorsed incumbent Congressman Mark Schauer against his opponent, Dirty Dozen candidate Tim Walberg. Walberg is so off-the-charts terrible on these issues that this is the second time he's had the honor of being on the Dirty Dozen.
On the west side of the state, home to the enviro champ Republican Congressman Vern Ehlers, moderate Republicans have come out en masse against congressional candidate Justin Amash, whose score on our Environmental Scorecard is a big, fat zero. Outraged and insulted that they might be represented by a man who opposed every major environmental/conservation initiative in Michigan during his career as a state representative, Republicans like Bill Farr, Bob Eleveld, Congressmen Ehlers' two daughters, and Karen Henry Stokes (widow to former Republican Congressman Paul Henry) publicly endorsed Democrat congressional candidate Pat Miles, whose commitment to clean energy jobs, water protections and more is clearly articulated on his campaign website.
Our great state is in great need of great leadership. Why not position Michigan at the forefront of clean energy jobs? Why not wean ourselves from our reliance on foreign oil? Why not take a good hard look at the fact that Michigan is the 6th state in the nation with the most oil and gas pipelines running through it ... and with minimal federal oversight?
Tim Walberg and Justin Amash have led on absolutely nothing that pertains to the core values that define Michigan: Preservation of place, creation of clean energy jobs that celebrate and protect our tremendous manufacturing infrastructure, and the protection of our majestic (and irreplaceable) Great Lakes. These men don't deserve the honor of representing us in Washington, D.C. Let's send visionary, committed leaders like Congressman Mark Schauer and Pat Miles there instead. I'm looking for ways to feel proud of Michigan. Schauer and Miles make me very proud.
--- Posted by Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director
--- Logo via nowpublic.com
