Congressman Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, was lauded by the state
advocacy group PennEnvironment for his environmental voting record.
The Philadelphia-based group releases statewide and national scorecards
annually, tracking how politicians vote on environmental issues, such
as promotion of alternative energy, protection of air and water purity,
and the reduction global warming.
Sestak was one of five
politicians in the state to receive a perfect score of 100 percent this
year for always siding with the environment, said David Masur, director
of PennEnvironment.
"This is a great honor to receive this
recognition. You don't vote conscious of it, you just vote what is
right," said Sestak. "This is especially relevant in light of our
national energy crisis, which has environmental implications."
While receiving a plaque for his spotless score Monday, Sestak
announced the approval through the House Appropriations Committee of
$250,000 to go toward a districtwide watershed management project.
Sestak said the project will enhance environmental infrastructure to
area streams, including Perkiomen, Brandywine, Valley and Ridley creeks.
"I see this as the Delaware Valley taking a major step forward and not
just bandaging an issue, but actually saying there's a comprehensive
way to resolve it," Sestak said.
Sestak added that the environment
and energy are vital to national security "as dependence on foreign oil
hampers our national security by hindering our economic and
environmental security."
W. Craig Williams, of Concord, Sestak's
Republican opponent in the November election, said the congressman has
taken extreme environmental positions.
"His support for extreme
environmental policies has resulted in higher gas and food prices by
locking our domestic energy resources away from us. As a result of
these policies, we allow other countries to control our energy and,
therefore, our economy," said Williams.
Other Pennsylvania
officials to receive perfect scores were Reps. Pat Murphy, D-8, of
Bucks County, Chris Carney, D-10, of Clarks Summit, Jason Altmire, D-4,
of Cranberry, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.
"One of only a
handful of elected officials in the state received a perfect score.
Unfortunately, more often than not, our elected officials are scoring
far below the spotless score of 100 percent," said Masur.
The average score in the state this year was 66 percent and the nationwide average score was 58 percent.
U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-6, of Chester County, received a score of 69
percent, while Joseph Pitts, R-16, of Chester County, scored zero
percent on the state scorecard.
"These scorecards are an important
tool to educate Pennsylvanians about how their elected officials vote
when it comes to the environment," said Masur. "We urge other members
of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation to join with Rep. Sestak and
work to strengthen our environmental laws, to stop global warming
pollution, move America towards a cleaner energy future and clean up
America's most treasured waterways."
