Pence Earns Low Score From LCV
Beth Slabaugh October 29, 2002

MUNCIE, IN--U.S. Rep. Mike Pence's votes on agricultural legislation in the past 2 years have earned him cheers from the American Farm Bureau Federation and boos from the League of Conservation Voters.  Of the 20 votes deemed the most important to AFBF in 2001-02, Pence voted the farm group's preferred position 19 times.  During the same period, Pence voted only 5 percent of the time for legislation considered the most important to LCV. In a recent news release, LCV reported, "The scorecard separates pro-environment members of Congress from those who put the interests of polluters first."

Both organizations included in their scorecards how legislators voted on the farm bill, trade promotion authority, mileage standards for vehicles and oil exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. During action on the farm bill on May 2, the House defeated an amendment to restore a cap on crop subsidies and dedicate much of the savings to agricultural conservation programs. LCV backed the amendment, which AFBF and Pence opposed. Pence also gained the approval of AFBF - and the disapproval of LCV - by voting for oil exploration in the Alaskan refuge and against higher corporate average fuel economy standards for pickup trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles.