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OCTOBER 10, 2000

Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash) will receive a special honor today, but its probably one he won't be writing home about.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), a nonpartisan political organization, plans to name Gorton to their "Dirty Dozen" list today. Believing the environment to be a key issue for swing voters in this year's election, the Dirty Dozen is a list of candidates whom the LCV believes shouldn't be in office, based on their record on environmental issues.

And going by LCV's scorecard, Gorton's record is dismal. The group gave Gorton an 11 percent rating (out of 100 percent) for his 1999 voting record.

As part of its scoring method, the group tracks several issues such as mining waste disposal, oil royalties, commercial fishing in Alaska, and funding for renewable energy. Gorton's voting record on legislation regarding these issues was anti-environmental, the group says.

To his credit, however, the group gave him a positive marking for his stance on fuel efficiency standards. In 1999, Gorton introduced a non-binding resolution calling for an end to the freeze on efficiency standards for automobile manufacturers.

Still, Gorton's resolution didn't help raise his rating by much. But surprisingly enough, his 1999 score was an improvement over the past four years.

LCV gave Gorton a 0 percent percent rating in 1998, 1997, and 1995. He got an 8 percent rating in 1996.

By being named to the list, Gorton joins other low-scoring members of Congress the LCV deems ripe for defeat. Montana Senator Conrad Burns and Florida Representative Bill McCollum, running for Senate this year, are also on the list.

But just how influential is the Dirty Dozen? According to the League, the group has helped defeat 16 of the 25 candidates who have appeared on the list in the past two years.

The group plans to spend $3 million to inform voters of the record of the Dirty Dozen members. Their public relations campaign against Gorton is joined by the First Americans Education Project (FAEP), an effort funded and run by tribal leaders.

Additionally, twelve Washington tribal leaders have endorsed Gorton's opponent, Maria Cantwell, in the race for Senate.

See Gorton's 1999 Scorecard:
Slade Gorton (R) (LCV 1999 National Environmental Scorecard)

Relevant Links:
The League of Conservation Voters - www.lcv.org
First Americans Education Project - www.first-americans.net
Maria Cantwell, Election site - www.cantwell2000.com
Slade Gorton, Election site - www.slade2000.com

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Should Indian Country reconsider Gorton? (The Talking Circle 07/25)
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