The League of Conservation Voters has released its annual congressional environmental scorecard, and the results are about the same as always. Austin Rep. Lloyd Doggett had a perfect 100% pro-green voting record – alone among Texans in D.C. – while Texas’ two senators continued to be dismal: Kay Bailey Hutchison scored 5%, and John Cornyn got a big fat zero. Among other area congress critters, Round Rock’s John Carter (CD 31) and Surfside’s Ron Paul (CD 14) scored 5%, and San Antonio’s Lamar Smith (CD 21, including the western half of Travis Co.) also got a goose egg. Overall, the Texas House delegation averaged 32%.
Still think there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans? In the Senate, the average Dem voted pro-environment 70% of the time, in the House, 82%. Senate Republicans voted green only 13% of the time, in the House, 14%. Freshman Republicans, who tend to be even more ideologically driven than the elder statesmen, are worse: Senate Republican frosh scored 11%, and House yearlings 9%. That’s obviously bad news after Texas’ re-redistricting, which is expected to bring as many as six new elephants to Congress.
This article appears in February 27 • 2004.