No mandate to pollute - Lay Of The Land - congressional representatives' environmental policies

Sierra, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Kim Todd

In the November election, many candidates coated poor environmental records with a thin layer of green paint. "Never before have so many candidates told the American public they care deeply about air, water, and land," says Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope. "Unfortunately, half of them didn't mean it."

Until now, the Bush administration's attempts to dismantle environmental protections have largely been done in back rooms and through regulatory agencies. But with friendly majorities in both houses of Congress, Bush may be emboldened to make these efforts more overt. And, once in office, many of November's candidates may let their green veneer wash away.

Then it could get interesting. "The American people did not vote against the environment; they did not vote to drill the Arctic, to have mercury in our streams, to cut down forests, or to have more kids get asthma," Pope says. "If Congress acts like that's what the American people voted for, they're in for a big shock."--K.T.

THEY CAMPAIGNED GREEN--WILL THEY STAY THAT WAY?

Wayne Allard (R-Colo.)    Claiming "the strongest record of
                          protecting Colorado's environment of any
                          senator in Colorado's history," Allard
                          actually voted against river cleanup and
                          corporate accountability.

Norm Coleman (R-Minn.)    Flip-flopping on oil drilling in the
                          Arctic, Coleman was all for it until the
                          election approached. Then he called the
                          wildlife refuge "a pristine piece of the
                          world."

John Sununu (R-N.H.)      He touted his "balanced approach on the
                          environment," but as a congressman Sununu
                          tilted toward letting corporate polluters
                          off the hook.

Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)     In the campaign, Smith highlighted his
                          votes against drilling in the Arctic and
                          for raising fuel-economy standards, but
                          downplayed his efforts to delay cleanup of
                          waterways and to eliminate the Superfund
                          tax on polluters.

Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.)   Dole promised to clean up North Carolina's
                          air, but supports Bush's "Clear Skies"
                          proposal, which allows huge increases in
                          mercury and sulfur pollution.