Chafee insures Wehrum confirmation; Roberts insures enduring shame

Posted by David Roberts at 2:51 PM on 26 Apr 2006

Looks like it's crow-eating time for yours truly. A while back I defended the Sierra Club's decision to endorse Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI). Then last week, to make matters worse, I smugly implied that enviros should be thankful that Chafee's around, because he might save us from Bush's nominee to head air-pollution programs at EPA, the stinktastic William Wehrum.

Well, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to confirm Wehrum, on a strict party-line vote. The vote count was 10-8; Chafee cast the key pro-confirmation vote.

So much for that theory!

(h/t to FO at Clean Air Watch)

For story: Chafee insures Wehrum confirmation; Roberts insures enduring shame
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Don't be hard on yourself

I don't live anywhere near RI, and I almost always vote for democrats. However, I'm still happy that Chafee is around. He is one of a few republicans still around that have an green ethics. Sure, RI voters could replace him with a greener democrat, but as the last of the moderate republicans get voted out of office, environmental issues will be seen and treated in an even more partisan light.

People like Chafee are a voice of moderation for the republican party (even if not on this particular vote). I'm still glad he is there. In the latest LCV scorecard, he was graded out at 90%. In the latest Wilderness Report Card (www.americanwilderness.org) he got an A-.

I live in southeastern Iowa. My representative is Jim Leach, a green-leaning republican. I sometimes here other environmentalists voice frustration with Leach on a particular issue and talk about getting a democrat in his seat. I remind them to continue encouraging Leach to be greener, but that environmental issues will not be solved automatically in this country by putting more democrats in office. If they force Leach out, the short term gain might be great. But eventually, the district will put another republican in, and then it might be an anti-environmentalist.

In short, moderate green republicans protect us by fending off the less desirable elements of their party. I might be wrong, but I would imagine that the same might be true with Chafee and Rhode Island. Lets work to make environmental issues LESS partisan, not more.

by bryankwalton at 6:25 AM on 27 Apr 2006

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