With his constituency core of urban Pittsburgh, Rep. Mike Doyle is enhancing his environmental record. In its 2008 Scorecard the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) gave Doyle a score of 92% on thirteen environmental votes. This is the highest score ever reached by Doyle, who scored 80% in 2007 and has a lifetime average of 62%.

In addition to his LCV voting record, Rep. Doyle has a good record on co-sponsoring bills designed to protect our public lands. These include preservation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska (H.R.39), wilderness designation for the red rock canyons in Colorado and Utah (H.R.1919), protection of roadless areas in National Forests in general (H.R.2516), and protection of specific areas and rivers in Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming (H.R.1975). Doyle has also co-sponsored bills to protect polar bears (H.R.2327) and to prohibit shooting wildlife from aircraft (H.R.3663).

Representing a more conservative district, Rep. John Murtha is to be commended for his 92% LCV score in 2008, well above his score of 75% in 2007 and his new lifetime average of only 45%.

In his second year in Congress, Rep. Jason Altmire’s LCV score of 77% was due to his voting wrong on three votes: Clean Energy, Public Grazing, and the Farm Bill.

Battling to retain his Erie-based seat, Rep. Phil English’s score of 38% in 2008 was only slightly better than his 35% score in 2007 and a lifetime average of 28%.

Perhaps with an eye to the general election, in 2008 Rep. Tim Murphy’s score of 31% was considerably better than the 20% of 2007, but Murphy’s lifetime average remains at the low level of 12%.

Wrapping up the 2008 LCV scores for our local Congressmen are scores of 15% for Rep. Bill Shuster and 0% for retiring Rep. John Peterson.
Their lifetime averages are 6% and 3%, respectively.

ACTION: Why not let YOUR Representative know how you feel about his environmental record, good or bad?