Seattle Post-Intelligencer — Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., both getting perfect 100 scores, are being hailed by the League of Conservation Voters for their role in helping thwart House Republican leaders’ efforts to roll back America’s environmental laws.
But two low-scoring Republicans in Washington’s congressional delegation also provided crucial votes.
The 112th Congress has featured “a truly breathtaking and unprecedented assault,” in the words of LCV President Gene Karpinski, on a framework of environmental laws begun under Republican President Richard Nixon and erected with bipartisan support.
The assault has failed because the U.S. Senate, under narrow Democratic control, and the Obama administration have “stood fast” against efforts to weaken such laws as the Clean Air Act.
The Washington congressional delegation gets a range of grades, based on 11 Senate and 35 House votes recorded in the past year.
Cantwell, Murray and Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., get perfect scores of 100, with veteran Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., not far behind at 97 percent. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., scores a 94 percent, with Reps. Adam Smith and Rick Larsen at 91 percent.
As one of the most beautiful states in the union–and one of the richest in natural resources–Washington has a special interest in energy and environmental policy. And Maria has fought hard to uphold the state’s conservation tradition, while also working to bring our energy policy into the 21st century.
Maria knows Washington’s business community – because, as an executive at an innovative software company, she was part of it. And as a Senator, she’s led the way in helping businesses large and small throughout Washington grow, thrive, and create jobs.
Maria has taken a leadership role on safety and security issues, including defending our borders, strengthening our military, cracking down on gangs, and taking on drug crime in Washington communities
Middle-class families around Washington and across the country are facing tough times–and tough decisions about balancing the family checkbook each month. Maria has fought to strengthen the economic security of Washington families and cut taxes for middle-class families.
