Idaho's four elected officials in the U.S. Congress collectively voted against key environmental causes more than four out of five times over the course of this year.
That's according to the League of Conservation Voters, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that serves as a watchdog of the government, in large part through monitoring elected officials' voting records.
In its 2008 Environmental Scorecard, the Washington, D.C.-based group rates the performance of U.S. senators and House of Representatives members on how they voted on key environment-related legislation. The scorecard rates the politicians on everything from global warming and protection of public lands to energy issues and consumer protection.
The scorecard rates voting records in the second session of the current, 110th U.S. Congress. The second session started on Jan. 3, 2008, and will officially close around the end of the year.
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, who will vacate his seat in January, received a score of 9 points, out of a possible 100. Sen. Mike Crapo, who in January will become Idaho's senior U.S. senator, earned a score of 18.
House members were ranked, logically, on a similar but not duplicate set of issues linked to legislation they considered in their arm of government.
Rep. Mike Simpson, whose district includes Blaine County, received a score of 23. Simpson was re-elected to his seat on Nov. 4.
Rep. Bill Sali, who lost his bid for re-election on Nov. 4, received an 8.
All of the Idaho congressional delegates are Republicans. When the next Congress convenes in 2009, Craig will be replaced by Republican Sen.-elect Jim Risch and Sali will be replaced by Democratic Rep.-elect Walt Minnick.
