LCV in the News

Gene Karpinski asks Sarah Palin 5 questions about America's future and her intentions as John McCain's running mate in The Hill's Congress Blog.

Reuters explores who is the "Best Bet to Turn the White House Green", with help from the LCV scorecard and our endorsement of Barack Obama.

New York League of Conservation Voters endorses Michael McMahon for the U.S. House of Representatives, State Assembly Member Ellen Jaffee for re-election, and State Senator Martin Connor for re-election.

LCV Endorses Obama in Colorado

Colorado native and LCV Senior Vice President Political Affairs and Public Education Tony Massaro joined former Secretary of Energy Federico Peña and Congressman Ed Perlmutter at Confluence Park to make the announcement and take questions.

Gene posts on The Hill blog

Gene Karpinski explains in The Hill why LCV is proud to endorse Barack Obama...click here

LCV Endorses Obama in Michigan, photos coming in...

That's LCV's Campaigns Project Manager, Kerry Duggan, at the podium along with (from left to right) LCV Board Member and environmental leader Lana Pollack, congressional candidate Gary Peters, and County Commissioner David Woodward at a the construction site of a green home in Oakland County.

Obama Events Underway

Carol Browner, LCV Board Member and Former EPA Administrator, at the announcement event in Washington, DC.

Stay tuned for updates from the other events going on nationwide...

Endorsement Events Across the Nation Today

Today, at events in Washington, DC; Denver, CO; Santa Fe, NM; Cincinnati, OH; Bloomfield Hills, MI, and Missoula, MT, LCV will announce our endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for President.

At these events, LCV representatives and members will be joined by several prominent environmental champions, including former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, Governor Bill Richardson, and former Energy Secretary Federico Peña.

Check back throughout the day for photos and stories from the events!

LCV Endorsements

Today, LCV President Gene Karpinski joined Mary Jo Kilroy in Columbus, Ohio to give her our endorsement in the election for the 15^th Congressional District. They met for an event highlighting the challenge of global warming and the potential of clean energy.

Also out of the office today was LCV Deputy Legislative Director Tim Greeff, who joined Andrew Rice at the Bergey Wind Power Co. in Norman, Oklahoma to give him our endorsement for the U.S. Senate.

Both Kilroy and Rice, as state legislators, have a history of making the environment a priority in their respective district and state. Their commitment to supporting alternative energy development on a national level will stimulate much needed change in Congress as LCV works towards electing pro-environment members and attain a 60-vote filibuster proof majority in the Senate.

To read LCV’s release on the endorsement of Andrew Rice, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-andrew-rice-for-senate.html

To read LCV’s release on the endorsement of Mary Jo Kilroy, go to:

http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-mary-jo-kilroy-in-ohio-s-15th-congressional-district.html

Congresswoman Edwards Sworn In

This afternoon Donna Edwards took the oath of office as Congresswoman of Maryland’s 4th Congressional District at the Capitol. She takes her position as the first African-American woman elected to Congress from the state of Maryland, and the first LCV Board member to be elected to Congress, serving on the boards of both LCV and the Maryland LCV.

At the swearing in of Donna Edwards, the House floor was filled with her colleagues, who stayed after an amendment vote to show their support for their newest member. She was hugged and greeted by members on both sides of the aisle, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and outgoing Rep. Al Wynn, who introduced her to the House and welcomed her into the Maryland delegation of representatives.

Above the floor, the public seating was packed with supporters of Donna Edwards who welcomed her into the room with waves and a standing ovation. She brought a message of change in her first words as Congresswoman. She vowed to be a representative to all walks of life and to start the job “with her sleeves rolled up and ready to work.”

Following her swearing in, she was greeted by the very supporters who stood by her throughout her campaign. The reception that she held in the Capitol was filled with the warmness of a jazz band, good food, and old friends.

As Donna Edwards begins her service to Maryland’s 4th district and the nation as a whole, she brings her leadership in energy and environmental issues to Congress and starts off the expansion to a pro-environment majority.

LCV Endorses Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

Today LCV endorsed Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona for reelection in the 8^th District. Giffords has dedicated her career to protecting Arizona’s natural heritage and has worked tirelessly to expand solar energy, creating green jobs throughout her state.

She earned herself a 95% LCV score in 2007 and a 100% lifetime score from the Arizona LCV as a state legislator for 4 years.

Tim Greeff, LCV Deputy Legislative Director, was with Giffords yesterday to giver her the endorsement. “She has become one of the great champions of clean energy and of protecting our planet for future generations,” Tim said. “America needs more leaders like Gabrielle Giffords.”

To read LCV’s release on the endorsement, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords.html

Success Stories Pouring In

June 5th was an extremely successful primary election in the Golden State: The California League of Conservation Voters endorsed a total of 82 candidates at the state and federal legislature levels, and of those, an amazing 78 were elected. That’s a 95% success rate!

Every single one of the endorsed candidates to the U.S. Congress were elected and 48 of the 52 state candidates won their elections.

In addition to the representatives elected, Californians passed a ballot proposition to enact protections against the misuse of eminent domain and rejected a misleading measure that would have attacked homeowners and the environment.

The California election results follow a nationwide trend that show voters are taking an aggressive pro-environment stance seeking to elect pro-environment representatives to their state and federal legislatures.

For more on the June 5 success from CLCV, visit: http://www.ecovote.org/news/june2008.html

LCV Endorses Congressman Chris Smith

LCV endorsed today Congressman Chris Smith for reelection in New Jersey’s 4^th Congressional District.

Throughout his 27 years serving as a New Jersey representative, Smith has fought to protect and preserve the state’s beaches. He sponsored the first bill to deal with the threat of global warming in the 1980’s and has cosponsored bipartisan legislation to stifle global warming pollution.

Josh McNeil, is in Manasquan, NJ with Congressman Smith to give him LCV’s endorsement. To read Josh’s release on the endorsement, go to: http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-endorses-congressman-chris-smith-for-reelection.html

Tony Massaro, Ann Kirkpatrick, and Bill Roe at the Endorsement Event in Flagstaff, AZ

LCV Endorses Ann Kirkpatrick

LCV endorsed Ann Kirkpatrick today for Congress in Arizona’s 1^st District. Throughout her time as a state legislator, Kirkpatrick fought for clean air and water, led the state into its top use of solar energy, and helped to create green jobs.

Kirkpatrick’s work to protect the environment earned her a 100% state voting record and her subsequent place on the Arizona League of Conservation Voters’ 2007 Honor Roll.

LCV’s Tony Massaro was at the kickoff of Conservationists for Kirkpatrick and being encouraged by her state level contributions to the clean energy cause is confident in her to be a leader on the environment in the House.

For more on our endorsement of Representative Kirkpatrick visit the LCV website: lcv.org

Victories in New Mexico

Yesterday marked two primary victories for candidates endorsed by LCV. Ben Ray Lujan won the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 3rd District, and Martin Heinrich won in the 1st District.

These two environmental champions will carry on to the general election on November 4th where they will face off against their GOP opponents.

Both candidates ran strong campaigns and LCV was happy to help by supplying them with resources to support their messages and drive them to victories. Thanks to 25,000 phone calls made by LCV, signs displaying Environmentalists for Lujan, newspaper and internet advertisements, we were able to reach Democratic primary voters and encourage their votes in New Mexico.

For more information and quotes from President Gene Karpinski, see the press release issued this morning by LCV, congratulating our two congressional nominees.
http://lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/environmental-candidates-win-nm-democratic-primary.html

Using YouTube to Get Out the Environmental Message

Candidates are increasingly using YouTube, the popular video sharing website, to post advertisements that convey their political messages. Of the 20 candidates that LCV endorses, 12 of them use this online outlet to post ads that are accessible to an international audience.

Of the 12 who use YouTube to post general advertisements, half voice a pro-environment message! Six of our 20 mention their political stances in favor of eliminating America's reliance on foreign oil, taking care of natural resources, and using clean renewable energy to power the nation.

Mark Udall, in his ad "Stand", which aired on May 14th in Colorado, took a full spot to promote his energy solutions. To view video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZB41EcFGTUo

This trend is allowing citizens beyond the state and district voters to watch these ads and to understand the candidates' commitments to the environment.

Other videos to watch:
Jerry McNerney-http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q3WW2YD90i&feature=related
Donna Edwards- http://youtube.com/watch?v=0C3NIa2hrdk

LCV endorses Kay Barnes

Today LCV announced its endorsement of former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes as Representative for Missouri’s 6^th District. Barnes would replace Rep. Sam Graves whose LCV lifetime average is an abysmal 4 percent. In contrast, Barnes has a positive record of supporting renewable energy projects. If elected to Congress she has pledged to push for legislation that would eliminate billions of dollars in tax breaks to oil companies, and instead invest that money in the development of clean renewable energy.

See our press release.

LCV's Love Letter to Jeanne Shaheen

Happy Valentine's Day to the people of New Hampshire!

The League of Conservation Voters announced its endorsement of former Governor and US Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen at a press conference in Concord this morning, citing her commitment to a new energy direction for this country that ends our reliance on foreign oil, reverses global warming, and creates new clean energy jobs.

“Dependence on the dirty fossil fuels of the past hurts our economy, makes national security more difficult, impairs a healthy environment and threatens devastating changes in our climate. America needs to embrace a clean, renewable energy future. Jeanne Shaheen gets it.
John Sununu doesn't," said, Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV)...click here for more