This morning's New York Times brings us an article on the Bush Administration's possible approach to envirnomental policy. It's essentially more of the same: Privatize the environment, handing it over to developers and energy interests. Since there's no future election concerns for Bush, he doesn't have to worry much about how many Americans he ticks off...or poisons.
There are, however, mid-term elections to consider. The environment fell way down the list of voting criteria this election, although a large majority of Americans consistently rank such issues high on their own personal lists of concerns. And while voters did not hold the Adminisration's feet to the fire, there is the potential to use the environment as our own "wedge" issue, to pressure those members of Congress from more environmentally-minded states to oppose the Administration's more dangerous policies.
In the Senate, the easy targets are Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine. Maine got bluer this election, and although both Senators are popular, much of that popularity is due to their pro-choice and pro-environment records. Snowe is up for re-election in 2006, unless she bolts for a race for governor, where her environmental record will have an even greater impact.
New Hampshire Senators Sununu and Gregg are also prime targets, although neither is up for election in 2006. But New Hampshire is turning bluer, and pollution from Mid-west power plants is wreaking havoc on the state's environment, and associated tourism. Sadly their Sierra Club rating aren't that wonderful, but with a little pressure, that might turn around.
I suspect Lincoln Chafee will turn Independent, particularly after his announcement that he wasn't voting for Bush. As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committe, he currently chairs the subcommittee on Superfund and Waste Management, although that might change come January, leading to his abandoment of the party which left him a decade ago.
Project Vote-Smart provides the record ratings of a large number of issue groups. Scanning through the Sierra Club ratings, I was able to pick out over a dozen Republican House and Senate members with ratings of 60% or above on Sierra Club issues. They include:
Rep. Chris Shays (CT)
Rep. Bob Simmons (CT)
Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT)
Rep. Jim Leach (IA)
Rep. Mark Kirk (IL)
Rep. Tim Johnson (IL)
Rep. Jim Ramstad (MN)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
Rep. Jim Saxton (NJ)
Rep. Chris Smith (NJ)
Rep. Sue Kelly (NY)
Rep. Sherry Boehlert (NY)
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (WI)
Rep. Tom Petri (WI)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME)
Sen. Susan Collins (ME)
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (RI)
(*note: It's possible one of more of these legislators will not be in the next Congress... if you know of any in particulary, let me know, please. I'm too lazy swamped to look then all up right now.)
The problem lies, I believe, in that we here on the Left try to think that the "liberal" or even moderate Republicans" are a fixed group. While there are some Republicans who do vote with us on a number of issues (Snowe, Chafee, Shays, Johnson), the make-up of our allies for the most part shifts depending on the issue. Some of the abovementioned are also pro-choice; but at least half aren't. And there are another dozen pro-choice Republicans who don't make the environmentalist grade (nota bene: Sen. John McCain is neither pro-choice nor pro-environment.)
We need action lists for each of our important issues; Congressional offices we flood with calls, letters and emails when our critical issues arise. Note as well that all of these legislators are in blue or purple states; not a single red state produced a pro-choice or pro-environment Republican.
Two years ago this week, Wampum set out its shingle for the very first time, and less than a week later we helped spearhead one of the most successful online lobbying efforts seen to this point, the withdrawal of support by Snowe, Collins and Chafee for last minute amendments to the Homeland Security Bill. The environment, choice, healthcare, education, social security - these are issues where we can look across the aisle for bipartisan support. In addition, we should agressively pursuing these alliances and drafting legislation, rather than just be reactionary, as we have for the past 4 years.
If you are the constituent of any of these legislators, give them a call, introduce yourself, tell them they'll be hearing a lot from you. See if you can make an appointment to talk to them when they're in town (you'd be amazed at how accessible many Congresspersons are to their constituents.) So what if you're not a Republican - it's their job to represent you anyway.
(I'll be setting up a permanent list of phone numbers and email for moderate Republican Congressional legislators, and the issues on which we can look to them for support, either on a separate page, or the sidebar to the right.)
Posted by MB Williams at November 8, 2004 02:15 PM | TrackBackI'm of 2 minds here. I say make good coalitions where you can, even if short lived, but we really need to recruit and run against more of these Repug 'holdovers' in the NE. There's no reason why Chris Shays (CT) should be respected or described as a 'moderate' by anyone when he plays a rubber stamp for the Bushites and only objects at the margins. These guys are milquetoasts of the Repug. party. They are bullied at will by Delay and Co. and will fall into line as quickly as a stern glance is shot their way. They in no way shape or form actually fairly represent the diversity of their districts. It's mainly incumbency that keeps them there year after year. Ditto for that turncoat Jim Leach (IA) and Nancy Johnson (CT). These people are only moderate in memory. At the moment they have voting records that would appall Reagan.
And Chris Smith (NJ) as a moderate? Good gracious people! This man is the most hard right wing raving lunatic when it comes to do with anything involving women having rights of autonomy. He's a right to life poster boy, with an unbroken 25 year track record to prove it. He definitely does not belong in Congress representing one of the most historically liberal states in the nation.
This is the only way we will ever overcome the deficit in the South in our lifetimes. Something to think about.
Posted by: VJ at November 9, 2004 02:07 AMVJ, These rating by the Sierra Club are from this past legislative session. So it appears on a majority of envirnomental issues, these legislators, Smith, Shays and Johnson included, were willing to break with Republican leadership. While I too would prefer to turn those seats Democratic, until that time, I'll settle for coopting them to our agenda.
Posted by: MB at November 9, 2004 06:32 AM