Mike DeWine on Environment Former Republican Sr Senator (OH, 1995-2007)

Voted NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations.

• Limits smokestack emissions in a two-phase program founded on a market based capping system
• Calls for the first cap to limit mercury emissions to 38 tons in 2010
• Requires the second and final cap to begin in 2018 and stay fix at 15 tons

Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior.

Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat.

Voted YES on transportation demo projects.

Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests.

Rated 16% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is the political voice of the national environmental movement and the only organization devoted full-time to shaping a pro-environment Congress and White House. We run tough and effective campaigns to defeat anti-environment candidates, and support those leaders who stand up for a clean, healthy future for America. Through our National Environmental Scorecard and Presidential Report Card we hold Congress and the Administration accountable for their actions on the environment. Through regional offices, we build coalitions, promote grassroots power, and train the next generation of environmental leaders. The 2003 National Environmental Scorecard provides objective, factual information about the environmental voting records of all Members of the first session of the 108th Congress. This Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which Members of Congress should be graded. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including environmental health and safety protections, resource conservation, and spending for environmental programs. Scores are calculated by dividing the number of pro-environment votes by the total number of votes scored. The votes included in this Scorecard presented Members of Congress with a real choice on protecting the environment and help distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection. Except in rare circumstances, the Scorecard excludes consensus action on the environment and issues on which no recorded votes occurred.

Tax credit to remove lead-based housepaint.

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: Allows a tax credit for 50% of the costs of reducing lead hazards in U.S. homes built before 1960 in which certain low-income children less than six years of age and women of child-bearing age reside. Allows a maximum credit of $3,000 for lead abatement costs and $1,000 for the cost of interim lead control measures.

EXCERPTS OF BILL:

Congress finds that:
1. Of the 98 million housing units in the United States, 38 million have lead-based paint.
2. Of the 38 million housing units with lead-based paint, 25 million pose a hazard due to conditions such as peeling paint and settled dust on floors and windowsills that contain lead at levels above Federal safety standards.
3. Lead poisoning remains a serious, entirely preventable threat to a child's intelligence, behavior, and learning.
4. The Administration has established a national goal of ending childhood lead poisoning by 2010.
5. Current Federal lead abatement programs only have resources sufficient to make approximately 7,000 homes lead-safe each year.
6. The replacement of old windows that contain lead based paint significantly reduces lead poisoning hazards in addition to producing significant energy savings.
7. Childhood lead poisoning can be dramatically reduced by the abatement or complete removal of all lead-based paint.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to Senate Committee on Finance; never came to a vote.