League of Conservation Voters

I was walking down the street in Seattle today and was approached by a young man asking me to donate to the League of Conservation Voters. He was full of energy and enthusiasm for the cause he was promoting. I stopped and chatted with him about what the League of Conservation was all about. The LCV’s mission is to advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt and implement such policies. It was a refreshing and inspiring encounter with a young student working a summer job that was helping to change the anti-environmental policies of the past.

I learned that the LCV was instrumental in securing the passage of the American Clean Energy & Security Act in the House of Representatives. This is the first comprehensive attempt to build a new clean energy economy. Many consider this the most important environmental bill to ever pass the House. It will reduce our dependence of foreign oil, create millions of jobs and help curb global warming. The bill still needs to pass the in the Senate before it reaches President Obama’s desk for passage. LCV also made an unprecedented decision to not endorse any member of the House that voted against the passage of the bill. The LCV website has an abundance of information on House and Senate members voting history, environmental scorecards and endorsements. They even have has a list of the dirty dozen Senators and Representatives that have historically voted against clean energy and pro-environmental policy. This is a great resource for voters to know the track record of their local Senator’s and Representatives. When you vote support the candidate that will help us build an economy based on clean energy and environmentally sound policies.

The big oil machine is pumping millions if not billions of dollars into fighting the passage of this bill in the Senate. If passed this bill will put a stake in the heart of the oil industry and be the pivotal turning point in history where we start to ween ourselves from the strangle hold oil has created in our daily lives. You can donate to the LCV on their website. There are also state by state chapters of the LCV that you can donate directly to including Washington Conservation Voters.

If you get a chance, stop at a street corner and talk to one of these young pro-environment supporters….it made my day;-)