JOHN McCAIN – POSITION SUMMARY
While the League of Conservation Voters recognizes Sen. John McCain is a candidate who is willing to engage in discussions on global warming, energy, and the environment, he repeatedly clings to outdated policies and flip-flops on core environmental issues. In his 25 years in Congress, McCain has faced 294 crucial environmental votes and he voted in favor of the environment only 71 times -- earning a lifetime score from LCV of just 24 percent.
In 2007, Sen. McCain scored 0 percent, due to missing all 15 votes scored, including the key vote on repealing tax giveaways to Big Oil -- a measure that failed by just one vote.1 This year, instead of exerting leadership on the key energy challenges facing the nation, Sen. McCain has offered a series of harmful policy proposals recycled from the Bush administration including an massive expansion of offshore drilling and major tax breaks for oil companies.2
McCain has rejected even the weakest renewable energy programs. Sen. McCain voted against giving increased funding to solar and renewable energy programs in 1994 and 1999.3 In 2005, he voted against a national renewable electricity standard (RES) that would have required utilities to get 10 percent of their electricity from alternative energy.4 Last year, he missed all of the renewable electricity votes.5 Sen. McCain supports giving billions of dollars in subsidies to the nuclear industry while actively opposing similar support for wind and solar energy.6 Renewable energy must be an essential part of any global warming plan, yet Sen. McCain has stood in the way of such progress throughout his career.7
McCain has blown many opportunities to improve fuel efficiency standards. Although increasing the fuel efficiency of vehicles would decrease our dependence on foreign oil and help consumers save money at the pump, Sen. McCain has repeatedly voted against raising efficiency standards.8 Even today, with record oil and gas prices, Sen. McCain still opposes setting a specific target for an increase in fuel efficiency standards.9 Further, Sen. McCain has proposed extending the Bush administration’s policy of rewarding Big Oil, even at a time when they are enjoying record profits, by proposing $3.8 billion in new tax breaks to oil companies.10
Despite early leadership on global warming, McCain’s policies fall short of what science shows is necessary. The international scientific consensus indicates that the U.S., along with other developed nations, must reduce emissions at least 80 percent by 2050 to have any chance of averting the worst impacts of climate change. Sen. McCain, like President Bush, supports measures that fall far short of where the science says we need to be.11
McCain and Bush do oil company bidding. Even though in May, Sen. McCain said drilling off our coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will do nothing to lower gas prices, just six weeks later he decided to pander to oil companies and called for drilling off our protected coasts.12 Fellow Republican, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said: “Anyone who tells you that this will bring down our gas prices immediately or any time soon is blowing smoke. America is so addicted to oil it will take us years to wean ourselves from it and to look for new ways to feed our addiction is not the answer.”13
McCain insists nuclear energy is a safe form of clean energy—as a long as it’s not in his backyard. Sen. McCain has adamantly expressed his support for storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.14 However, when asked in an interview if he would be comfortable with nuclear waste traveling through Arizona to get to Yucca Mountain, he responded, “No, I would not.”15
McCain’s support for tax breaks to Big Oil and nuclear show disdain for renewables. Sen. McCain has failed to vote for opportunities to repeal at least $13 billion in subsidies for Big Oil implemented by Bush-Cheney, including a 2007 version to create a clean energy fund that failed by just one vote.16 His tax plan would generate an additional $3.8 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies.17 He supports increasing massive subsidies for the nuclear power industry.18 He opposes any tax breaks for wind, solar and other forms of clean energy.19
McCain opposes major efforts to protect clean water. In Congress, Sen. McCain cast 10 votes against clean water, including against drinking water protection and enforcement, controlling microbes in water, and funds for water pollution control, and in favor of delaying funds for leaking underground storage tanks and allowing municipalities to set their own standards for toxic waste.20
For footnote citations, please visit www.lcv.org/footnotes/mccain.html
