LCV Endorses Tom Perriello for Re-Election

This isn't surprising, but it's good news (and well deserved!) nonetheless. Go Tom!

LCV Action Fund Endorses Tom Perriello for Re-Election in Virginia’s 5th District

Washington, DC - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental policies, today announced its endorsement of Tom Perriello (VA-05) for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“During his first term, Congressman Perriello championed efforts to bring new clean energy jobs to Virginia and make America less dependent on oil from hostile nations,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “We are proud to endorse Congressman Perriello for re-election because he has fought to ensure that America – and more importantly Virginia – leads in the creation of the 21st century’s new clean energy economy.”

Rep. Perriello voted for the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act that would help create over 44,000 clean energy jobs in Virginia*, reduce carbon pollution and increase energy independence. He also supported the single largest investment in clean energy in history – more than $80 billion for energy efficiency, renewable energy and public transit in the economic recovery package, with substantial investments going to Virginia’s 5th district.

"Congressman Perriello has demonstrated bold leadership in his votes to advance sound energy policy,” said Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “These measures are exactly what Virginia's 5th Congressional District needs to jumpstart clean energy job creation right in the heart of our Commonwealth."

In July of 2009, Rep. Perriello unveiled “New Energy for the Fifth District: A Blueprint for Putting Southside and Central Virginia at the Forefront of the Clean Energy Economy.” The strategy document outlines why the 5th District of Virginia is positioned to become a leading region in the nation for the clean energy economy. He recognizes that climate change threatens both our national security and our economy. He supports investing in alternative energy and efficiency technologies to make our country safe and to promote economic growth.**

A Pew commissioned survey of Virginia’s 5th district confirms that the congressman's vote for comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation is exactly in-line with his constituents, with a solid 70 percent in favor of reducing global warming pollution and boosting our use of clean energy sources.***

Rep. Perriello is also featured on LCV Action Fund’s GiveGreen website, http://lcv.org/givegreen, the only bundling website devoted exclusively to raising money for environmental champions and candidates.

LCV Endorses Deeds, Wagner, Shannon, Bouchard, Vanderhye, etc.

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has announced its endorsements for the general election. From the LCV's press release:

In the statewide races, VALCV endorsed Creigh Deeds for Governor, Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor and Steve Shannon for Attorney General. Headlining the list of House of Delegate endorsements are conservation champions who face tough reelection campaigns like Delegate Joe Bouchard (District 83 – Virginia Beach) and Delegate Margi Vanderhye (34 – McLean) as well as challengers like Greg Werkheiser (42 – Springfield) who will help move Virginia towards a clean energy economy.

The full list of endorsements can be found at our website.

"Virginia voters understand that shifting to a clean energy economy will create good paying jobs and offer relief for hard hit industries in Virginia while helping to combat serious threats from climate change at the same time,” said Lisa M. Guthrie, Executive Director of VALCV, whose Board of Directors voted on the endorsements. "These endorsements will make clear to voters which candidates have real solutions to improving Virginia’s economy and environment.”

Other LCV endorsements of Democrats in races I'm watching (because they're competitive, potentially competitive, possible takeovers, etc.) include:

John Bell (13th district)
Robert Mathieson (21st district)
Margi Vanderhye (34th district)
Kaye Kory (38th district)
Greg Werkheiser (42nd district)
Scott Surovell (44th district)
Jeannette Rishell (50th district)
Paul Nichols (51st district)
Luke Torian (52nd district)
Tom Shields (73rd district)
Joe Bouchard (83rd district)

Congratulations to everyone who received the LCV endorsement, although I must say that some of these people - like David Englin and Joe Bouchard, for instance - are true environmental heroes, while others range from "good" to "so-so." I guess it's all relative. Also, I find it interesting that so few Republicans received the LCV's endorsement. There's no reason that the environment should be a partisan issue, and I wish it weren't, but unfortunately most Republicans are not friends of the environment, while most Democrats are. That's just the way it is these days, in yet another sign of how far the Republican Party has strayed from its Teddy Roosevelt progressive roots.

P.S. I had actually heard from an inside source a while back that the LCV might not make an endorsement in the governor's race because they weren't particularly excited with either Creigh Deeds or Bob McDonnell (in the primary, the LCV reportedly only considered endorsing Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, ultimately endorsing McAuliffe). In the end, though, I'm sure the LCV decided to endorse Deeds given how utterly heinous Bob McDonnell will be on the environment, and also given Deeds' focus on promoting green energy, LEED standards for buildings, land conservation, and an "energy research triangle." In contrast, McDonnell is a consummate "fossil fool," stuck in the past with his "drill baby drill" mentality while countries like China race ahead of us (and while the planet continues to heat up dangerously fast). Given that choice, there's no choice at all: McDonnell's a nightmare, Deeds at least offers hope for environmental progress in Virginia.

LCV Launches Ad in Support of Congressman Perriello

The National Republican Campaign Committee and the Republican leadership in Washington last week attacked Democrats who supported the clean energy jobs bill that recently passed the House of Representatives with misleading ads citing false information. Today, the League of Conservation Voters fought back against these inaccurate attacks with a TV ad buy in support of both the honest truth and Congressman Tom Perriello’s crucial vote for clean, safe, American energy.

LCV’s ad will air throughout the week in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District. The ad is online at http://lcv.org/perriello

“Unable to make a case for their continued support of the same failed energy policies of the past, Congressman Eric Cantor and the Republican congressional leadership are relying on false and discredited information to justify their opposition to building a clean energy economy,” LCV President Gene Karpinski said.

The non-partisan watchdog group Factcheck.org calls the NRCC’s claim, based on a Heritage Foundation proposition that energy costs could go up nearly $1,800 a year per household under the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), “wrong.” Roanoke TV station WDBJ has refused to air the NRCC attack ad targeting Mr. Perriello. Additionally, Representative Cantor recently cited an MIT study that Factcheck.org said was a “misrepresentation.” The study was not based on ACES legislation and the author of that study has disputed Republican interpretations of his work.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), an impartial and reputable source, says that consumers in 2020 will see a cost increase of less than $175 per year, roughly $15 per month, under ACES. CBO also found that the most vulnerable families will see a net benefit of $40 per year under this bill.

“Representative Perriello cast a critical vote for a comprehensive clean energy jobs bill that will create the industries of tomorrow and make the U.S. a global leader in new energy technology,” Karpinski continued. “These Republican leaders in Washington continue to cling to Big Oil’s failed energy policies and Karl Rove’s somewhat casual relationship with the truth.”