East-West Divide in Washington LCV Ratings

Yesterday the League of Conservation Voters, an interest group that calls itself the “independent voice for the environment,” released its annual congressional scorecard. These ratings are based on the environmental legislation in the House and Senate from the past year. The LCV makes a judgment on what they consider to be the environmentally friendly position on each bill, and assigns a plus or a minus to each vote, with absences considered a negative.

As usual, Washington’s elected officials could be easily divided into two distinct groups. Every Senator and Congressman from the seven districts west of the Cascades received scores of 80 or above, while the two Representatives from the eastside scored a glaring 5.

Both Eastern Washington Republicans earned their points by voting for H.R. 720, a water pollution bill in which they broke with the majority of their party.

Democrats Jay Inslee, Brian Baird, Norm Dicks and Jim McDermott all scored 95, followed by Democrat Adam Smith at 90, Republican Dave Reichert with 85 and Democrat Rick Larsen at 80.

Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell voted in lockstep en route to their scores of 87, which is in line with all of their previous ratings.

See all of Washington’s scores here.