We are 457 days away from the 2012 presidential election. Politicians are already scrambling around the country sharing their opinions and attributes with the American people. While economic issues are taking front and center on news broadcasts, the ecological views of presidential contenders are also important to those who want to preserve "Mother Earth."
Is being environmentally friendly such a partisan issue and a topic of concern for just left-leaning lawmakers? Apparently not, thanks to the tireless efforts of three eco-minded women. The Republicans for Environmental Protection group is working to reverse the negative image the GOP has on ecological issues.
The organization sprang from the good intentions of thee typical middle class women who were not political activists but shared a passion for protecting the environment. The ladies started a grassroots movement to restore the conservative mindset of the Republican Party. Making the preservation of natural resources a top priority seemed like an impossible goal at first, but the trio of women kept working, speaking to fellow party members and pushing their earth-friendly agenda.
The founding members of the group relied on the 70 years of conservation precedent by the GOP during the first seven decades of the twentieth century to keep their efforts on the forefront of party initiatives.
REP honorary board members include influential Republicans from around the country. A plethora of senators, congressional representatives, governors and former elected officials have offered their support to the efforts and agenda of the organization. In addition to speeches, issue papers and networking events the REP publishes "The Green Elephant" newsletter to keep conservatives abreast of environmental issues, upcoming legislation and supportive lawmakers. State REP chapters focus on both local conservation issues and national campaign topics.
Each year the REP generates a scorecard grading the Earth-friendly efforts of Republican elected officials. The group scores each public servant based upon their voting record, leadership on the issues and introduction of bills. All national level Republican lawmakers are judged on a grading scale ranging from 0 to 100 points.
2010 Green Elephant Scorecard
Top eco-friendly Republicans dot the landscape around the country, as do those scoring very low on the grading scale. Delaware's Michael Castle earned a "B" grade weighing in at 82 on the scorecard scale. Timothy Johnson of Illinois earned a low "A" on the annual report card with a 91 Earth-friendly score.
Marlin Stutzman from Indiana is the star of the current crop of Republicans, earning a perfect score for the support of environmental causes. Tom Reed of New York also earned an (A plus) from REP members for fostering natural preservation in the United States. The group considers Dave Reichert the best "green" Republican member of the 11th Congress. While Ron Paul is a champion on many GOP issues, he is ranked at the lowest end of the earth-friendly spectrum by REP members.
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