Chicago Tribune: Environmental issues lose political clout [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

President Bush has received an "F" rating from the Sierra Club, and the comparatively conservative National Parks Conservation Association has declared his administration an official threat to the parks. Other groups have declared Bush the worst president regarding the environment in recent history.

But to the frustration of environmentalists, their issues are having only marginal impact on a bitterly contested race that has been overwhelmingly dominated by the war in Iraq and the struggling economy.

Bush has opposed new fuel efficiency requirements for automobiles, SUVs and other light trucks. Kerry co-sponsored with Sen. John McCain a measure to increase fuel efficiency standards to 36 m.p.g. from 24 by 2015.

Endorsing Kerry, the League of Conservation Voters accorded him a lifetime voting record rating of 92 percent in support of the environment, compared with 64 percent for former Sen. Al Gore, who was closely identified with the environmental movement.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&e=9&u=/chitribts/20041018/ts_chicagotrib/environmentalissueslosepoliticalclout

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