Fossella's horrible environmental record

via the SI Advance;

Rep. Vito Fossella got a failing grade on the annual Environmental Scorecard of members of Congress, released yesterday by the nonpartisan League of Conservation Voters.

Fossella, the city's only Republican congressman, scored 17 percent -- the lowest of the city's 12 members of the House of Representatives.

Fossella's grade was based on his votes on 12 environmental bills, ranging from increasing offshore drilling to reinforcing federal clean-water regulations.

Half of the city's House representatives earned perfect 100 percent grades; none except Fossella received less than an 83 percent score.

"He doesn't have his priorities in order," said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York chapter of the League of Conservation Voters. "I think it's troubling. I look forward to seeing an improvement in Mr. Fossella's votes. Perhaps he could speak to Reps. (Sherwood) Boehlert and (Sue) Kelly" -- both New York state Republicans who did well on the scorecard.

Boehlert (R-New Hartford) earned an 83 percent grade while Rep. Kelly (R-Katonah) clocked in with a 92 percent score.

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"The positive records of many of New York's House members stand in stark contrast to that of Rep. Fossella, who put special interests ahead of his own constituents in New York by voting for giveaways to oil companies and against clean water and food safety and the public's right to know about toxics released into their communities," said Gene Karpinski, president of the League.

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"I think it's well-deserved," Harrison said yesterday, adding that the U.S. must end its reliance on oil by exploring alternative technology like wind and solar power, and expanding the use of ethanol. Fossella, he said, has not supported such initiatives. "We cannot drill ourselves out of our energy issues right now. We must come up with an alternative so we get free of oil," Harrison said.

Harrison's environmental policy page.