Kempthorne’s Conservation Record
Idaho Governor Dick Kempthorne's League of Conservation Voters lifetime voting score: 1%.
That's right. While in the U.S. Senate, Kempthorne voted in favor of the environment on only 1% of the votes scored by LCV.
If you are interested in knowing more about his conservation voting record, you'll find a nice summary on the Endangered Species Coalition's web site. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committe is scheduled to vote on his nomination this Wednesday (May 10) at 9:30 a.m. mountain time.
Dick Kempthorne Sails Toward Confirmation as the New Interior Secretary
The good news, I suppose, is that even Kempthorne opposes President Bush’s proposed Great Public Land Sell-Off, but this is more of an acknowledgement by the Administration that the idea is dead than an indication of anything hopeful about Gale Norton’s replacement. Kempthorne made clear that revamping the Endangered Species Act will be a priority during his tenure, and his record – mixed but largely consistent with the Bush Administration’s fierce assault on conservation and America’s natural heritage – leaves little doubt that we will have our work cut out for us for some time to come.
And just in case you weren’t sure, Kent Holsinger, the former-Allard-staffer-turned-anti-conservation-industry-champion, was so excited about the prospects of a Kempthorne Interior Department that he penned a puff piece in the Rocky Mountain News even Kempthorne’s PR staff couldn’t have topped (if they didn’t write it themselves). When the industry folks start cheerleading you know the nominee is no friend of conservation.
Center for Native Ecosystems
Our mission, simply put, is to save endangered species across Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. We play an "urgent care" role for the imperiled plants and wildlife most at risk of extinction, buying some time to figure out the long term solutions. We also work hard to recover these species, restoring them and their habitats to health. And we blog because doing so gives us a great way of keeping folks a little more plugged in to what's happening in the world of endangered species advocacy, offering some insight into what we do and how we do it, and fostering conversation among our supporters, our staff, and others.
