DNC: McCain on the Environment: Different Issue, Same Double Talk

The Democratic National Committee says once again, John McCain is trying to dress up his record to hide his "more of the same" agenda.

John McCain photo courtesy: img.scoop.co.nz

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - While Senator McCain is now trying to change his rhetoric after months of running to the right on the campaign trail, he can't change the facts. He has consistently put the interests of his key campaign contributors ahead of environmental protection.

His campaign is being directed and funded by the same oil company lobbyists who crafted President Bush's energy policies.

Leading environmental watchdog groups have given his voting record dismally low ratings, and just last week Senator McCain promised to nominate more of the same right wing judges who would gut environmental protections.

Senator McCain's double talk on the environment even extends to the venue for today's remarks. He is speaking at a wind turbine manufacturing company, despite consistently opposing efforts to invest in wind and solar technologies.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on John McCain's double talk on the environment:

"Senator McCain is once again trying to re-cast himself as a friend of the environment for the general election, but his record clearly shows that the only friends he really stands up for are his donors and the lobbyists running his campaign. No campaign rhetoric can change his record. For Senator McCain, protecting the environment has taken a backseat to giving his donors sweetheart deals, appointing radical right wing judges who would gut environmental regulations, and voting against key environmental protection efforts. For voters looking for a true champion of the environment, John McCain is the wrong choice."

McCain stated today that he praises wind power. "I appreciate the hospitality of Vestas Wind Technology. Every day, when there are no reporters and cameras around to draw attention to it, this company and others like it are doing important work. And what we see here is just a glimpse of much bigger things to come. Wind power is one of many alternative energy sources that are changing our economy for the better."

But the DNC says that in reality, McCain opposed $290 million for Research & Development on renewable energy, Including wind power. McCain voted against an amendment to extend the renewable energy production tax credit and clean renewable energy bonds programs for four years including $290 Million for renewable energy R&D on Solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower. [2006 Senate Vote #42, 3/14/2006]

A further reality check, indicates that McCain opposed tax credit for facilities that produce electricity from wind. Discussing his opposition to the American Jobs Creation Act, McCain blasted provisions for a tax credit for wind power producers.

"Let me outline just a few of the most egregious provisions contained in the proposal before us today: The bill includes an extension of the tax credit for the creation of electricity from 'renewable resources.' This provision would extend for a year the tax credit for facilities that produce electricity from wind, poultry waste or closed-loop biomass. While I know wind is the favored renewable technology and various tax credits have made it competitive with conventional energy production in some locations, renewable solar technology has greater potential in my State and does not receive this favored tax status to make it more affordable." [Congressional Record, 3/24/2004]

In 2006, McCain voted repeatedly against tax credits to encourage renewable energy production. McCain voted against several amendments aimed at encouraging renewable energy production. [2006 Senate Vote #42, 3/14/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #158, 6/28/2005; 2001 Senate Vote #125, 5/21/2001]

Then moving back to 2005: McCain voted twice against establishing national renewable energy standards. McCain voted against an amendment that would mandate that renewable energy sources must produce at least 10 percent of the electricity sold by electric utilities by 2020, a minimum of 2.5 percent must be produced beginning 2008 through 2011. In 2007, McCain missed a vote on an amendment that would require utilities to produce 20 percent of their electricity from clean or renewable energy sources by 2020 in favor of an alternative amendment would require utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. [2005 Senate Vote #141, 6/16/2005; 2002 Senate Vote #50, 3/14/2002; 2007 Senate Vote #211, 6/14/2007]

Anti-Environment Judges

McCain has never voted against a Republican judicial nominee. "McCain, the republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, promised to appoint judges who, in the mold of Chief Justice John Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, he says would interpret the law strictly to curb the scope of their rulings. While McCain did not mention abortion, the far right understands that such nominees would be likely to limit the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that widely legalized abortion across the United States...He also has cast conservative votes on judges. McCain has never voted against a Republican nominee for the Supreme Court or federal courts, the Democratic National Committee pointed out." [Associated Press, 5/6/08] Environmentalists are wary of McCain's appointments to the Supreme Court. Joseph Romm, former top Energy Department efficiency and renewable energy official said that environmentalists worry that McCain's appointments to the Supreme Court would be extremely conservative. They worry that conservative judges "would overturn last year's landmark 5-4 ruling -- in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency -- that the EPA has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide under existing laws. 'We will have a devil of a time getting serious action on global warming if the Supreme Court reverses its position,' says Romm." [Business Week Online, 4/22/08]

Low Ratings and Bad Environmental Voting

In 2008: McCain received 24 percent lifetime rating from LVC. "This year, the League of Conservation Voters, with input from 18 other environmental-advocacy groups, gave Clinton, 60, a lifetime Senate rating of 87 percent and Obama, 46, an 86 percent rating. McCain got 24 percent." [Bloomberg, 3/21/2008]

In 2008, McCain campaign hasn't offset carbon footprint, Despite Assurances They Would Do So. "Six months ago, Mr. McCain's campaign said it was preparing to reduce its net carbon output. Spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told The Washington Times that McCain staffers had asked for a company to study the campaign's carbon footprint and suggest offsets...Yesterday, though, spokesman Brian Rogers said that was a mistake, and the study fell by the wayside a month earlier during a July staff shake-up." [Washington Times, 2/19/2008]

In 2007, McCain missed all 15 key environmental votes according to the League Of Conservation Voters. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) scored 0 percent in 2007 (24 percent lifetime) due to missing all 15 votes scored, including the key vote on repealing tax giveaways to big oil - a measure that failed by only one vote. [http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/lcv-releases-2007-national-environ mental-scorecard.html]

Also in 2007, McCain Skipped Vote On Energy Legislation That Increased CAFE Standards. McCain missed a vote on passage of the energy bill that would overhaul national energy policies and increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. [2007 Senate Vote #226, 6/21/2007]

In 2006: McCain supported budget resolution that allowed for drilling in ANWR. "Of the seven Senate Republicans that tried to strip ANWR from the FY06 budget resolution, Sen. John McCain of Arizona is the only one to declare that he will still support the FY07 budget resolution bill if ANWR drilling language remains." [National Journal's CongressDaily, 3/15/06; 2006 Senate Vote #72, 3/16/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #289, 11/3/2005; 2000 Senate Vote #58, 4/6/2000; 1995 Senate Vote #190, 5/24/1995; 1995 Senate Vote #525, 10/27/1995; 1995 Senate Vote #556, 10/27/1995]

McCain's 2006 vote to open up Gulf of Mexico for drilling and his support for oil subsidies have put him at odds with environmentalists. "McCain antagonized environmentalists by voting in 2006 to open 8 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to oil drilling. In addition, they have clashed over McCain's support for multibillion-dollar subsidies to the nuclear industry." [Bloomberg, 3/21/2008]

In 2003, McCain twice voted against a proposal to raise CAFE standards. McCain voted against an amendment that would mandate an increase in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard. Passenger vehicles made before 2006 would have to average 25 miles per gallon. After that, the standard would gradually increase to 40 miles per gallon by model year 2015. Non-passenger vehicles made before 2006 would have to average 17 miles per gallon. By model year 2015, they would have to average 27.5 miles per gallon. [2003 Senate Vote #309, 7/29/03; 2003 Senate Vote #310, 7/29/03]

Land Swaps Over Conservation

McCain Reversed Opposition After Developer Hired Lobbyists Who Worked for Him. "Initially reluctant to support the swap, the Arizona Republican became a key figure in pushing the deal through Congress after the rancher and his partners hired lobbyists that included McCain's 1992 Senate campaign manager, two of his former Senate staff members (one of whom has returned as his chief of staff), and an Arizona insider who was a major McCain donor and is now bundling campaign checks. When McCain's legislation passed in November 2005, the ranch owner gave the job of building as many as 12,000 homes to SunCor Development, a firm in Tempe, Ariz., run by Steven A. Betts, a longtime McCain supporter who has raised more than $100,000 for the presumptive Republican nominee." [Washington Post, 5/9/08]

Environmentalists opposed the deal. "The Audubon Society described the exchange as the largest in Arizona history. The swap involved more than 55,000 acres of land in all, including rare expanses of desert woodland and pronghorn antelope habitat. The deal had support from many local officials and the Arizona Republic newspaper for its expansion of the Prescott National Forest. But it brought an outcry from some Arizona environmentalists when it was proposed in 2002, partly because it went through Congress rather than a process that allowed more citizen input." [Washington Post, 5/9/08]

Federal officials said deal would shortchange taxpayers. "Although the bill called for the two parcels to be of equal value, a federal forestry official told a congressional committee that he was concerned that 'the public would not receive fair value' for its land. A formal appraisal has not yet begun. A town official opposed to the swap said other Yavapai Ranch land sold nine years ago for about $2,000 per acre, while some of the prime commercial land near a parcel that the developers will get has brought as much as $120,000 per acre." [Washington Post, 5/9/08]

Lobbyists running, raising money for his campaign have earned $13.1 million from oil companies. McCain Fundraisers and advisors have earned over $13 million dollars lobbying for oil and related interests. That includes $4.1 million for Wayne Berman's firm, $3 million for John Green's, and $1.75 million for Charlie Black's. [Lobbying relationships and dollar amounts from Senate Office of Public Records filings; McCain campaign roles from McCain Campaign Release; The Politico [3/4/08]; whitehouseforsale.org]

Source: Democratic National Committee