Environmentalists score Nevada’s congressional delegation

By Stephanie Tavares

Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 | 1:08 p.m.

The environmental records of Nevada politicians divide sharply along party lines, a report released today by the Nevada Conservation League and parent organization League of Conservations Voters notes.

The National Environmental Scorecard gave Democratic Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Dina Titus 100 percent scores for the votes they cast for pro-environment legislation on issues like renewable energy, water  quantity and quality, forest management, offshore drilling, wildlife conservation and chemical security.

Their fellow Democrat, Rep. Shelley Berkley, received a score of 93 percent.

Those scores contrasted sharply with those of Nevada Republicans. Sen. John Ensign received a zero and Rep. Dean Heller received a score of 7 percent.

“We applaud those members of the Nevada delegation who fought in 2009 to bring clean energy jobs to the state and reduce our national dependence on foreign oil, such as Harry Reid and Dina Titus” said Nevada Conservation League Political Director Kyle Davis, in a statement. “The 2009 Scorecard clearly exposes John Ensign and Dean Heller for what they really are: willing to put corporate polluters and other special interests ahead of a cleaner, more secure energy future for Nevada.”

The scores were based on the legislators' votes on several pieces of legislation considered key to the environmental agenda. The legislation to be considered was chosen by the consensus of experts from about 20 prominent environmental and conservation organizations. The 2009 scorecard includes 11 Senate and 13 House votes dominated by clean energy and climate but also encompassing other environmental issues such as public lands, water and wildlife conservation.

The legislation included the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, American Clean Energy and Security Act, The Omnibus Public Land Management Act, The Interior-Environment appropriations bill, Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, Water Quality Investment Act, The 21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act, as well as voting to maintain or increase funding for agencies or programs meant to help the environment. Scores were marked down for legislators who introduced or voting in favor of legislation that would hinder environmental protection.