WASHINGTON – There’s a new way for Michigan residents to find out who in Congress is standing up for clean air and their health: The NRDC Action Fund Wednesday unveiled a website that lets users track dirty votes by members of Congress and campaign contributions from polluting industries.
The website names nine members of the Michigan Congressional delegation “Dirty Air Villains”: Rep. Dan Benishek – MI 1; Rep. Bill Huizenga – MI 2; Rep. Justin Amash – MI 3; Rep. John Moolenaar – MI 4; Rep. Fred Upton – MI 6; Rep. Tim Walberg – MI 7; Rep. Mike Bishop – MI 8; Rep. Candice Miller – MI 10; and Rep. Dave Trott – MI 11.
A total of seven representing Michigan in Congress are labeled as “Clean Air Heroes”: Sen. Gary Peters; Sen. Debbie Stabenow; Rep. Daniel Kildee – MI 5; Rep. Sander Levin – MI 9; Rep. Debbie Dingell – MI 12; Rep. John Conyers, Jr. – MI 13; and Rep. Brenda Lawrence – MI 14.
Of the 243 total Dirty Villains in the U.S. House, 241 are Republicans and two are Democrats. In the U.S. Senate, 49 Republicans are Dirty Air Villains, and one Democrat is a Dirty Air Villain.
The WhoVotesDirty.Com website uses sophisticated data from the government watchdog group Sunlight Foundation and cutting-edge data-gathering technology to provide real-time information to the public and others revealing how members of Congress are voting on clean air and climate action measures, as well as contributions they receive from polluters from the oil & gas, electric utility and coal mining sectors.
“The question is: Where do members of the Michigan Congressional delegation stand – with the polluters or with Michigan families who want to protect their children and their health?” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, director of the NRDC Action Fund. “We’re shining a spotlight on those who vote against the best interests of their Michigan constituents, who many times are in the dark about what’s happening in Washington. The time has come to make sure that – unlike Las Vegas – what happens on Capitol Hill doesn’t just stay there.
“Clean air and climate protections are vital to protecting our children’s health and ensuring a brighter future for all generations,” Taylor-Miesle added. “And our new tracking system arms constituents in Michigan and elsewhere with an easy to use tool to hold their members accountable for voting against those life-saving interests, and instead to protect dirty energy and dirty air.”
What makes a member of the Michigan Congressional delegation a hero or villain?
NRDC Action Fund policy experts identify the votes that have the greatest impact or potential to impact clean air and climate policy. Members who vote against clean air 80 percent or more of the time are considered Dirty Air Villains. Those who vote to strengthen protections 80 percent or more of the time are considered Clean Air Heroes. All other members have no assigned status.
