This is the thirteenth article in a continuing series by the NRDC Action Fund on the environmental stances of candidates in key races around the country.
Today, we examine Indiana's 9th Congressional District, covering the southeastern and south-central portions of the state, and including Bloomington and the Indiana suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky. The district is heavily rural and agricultural, birthplace of singer John Mellancamp, famous for his song "Small Town." The district also includes larger, urban areas, with employers such as Indiana University, General Electric, Hoosier Energy and Otis Elevator. Since January 2007, the 9th Congressional District has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Democrat Baron Hill. This year, Hill is being challenged by Republican Todd Young, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Deputy Prosecutor in Orange County.
On clean energy and environmental issues, Rep. Hill has a strong record. In 2009, for instance, Hill received a solid, 86% rating from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and a 93% rating from Environment America. Hill voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), an extraordinarily important piece of environmental legislation which the New York Times described as "the first time either house of Congress had approved a bill meant to curb the heat-trapping gases scientists have linked to climate change." At the time of his "aye" vote, Hill stated that he was "proud of both [his] support for and work done on the [legislation]." Hill added that he worked with "other like-minded Members...to get the electricity sector 90% of their allowances for free." Finally, Hill pointed out his efforts to ensure that "manufacturing industries will be compensated for their cost of compliance with these new standards."
In sharp contrast, Todd Young pledges to "vote against cap and trade bills that will raise our energy bills." Young falsely attacks Rep. Hill, claiming that Hill "wants to raise your energy bill $1,800 a year." Young also wrongly claims that ACES would "dramatically raise the cost of electricity and gasoline for all Americans, kill jobs in Indiana and have no appreciable effect on climate change."
In fact, as an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office concluded in June 2009, "the net economy-wide cost of the [greenhouse gases] cap-and-trade program would be about $22 billion-or about $175 per household." That's just one-tenth of the cost figure Todd Young is falsely putting out there. In addition, that $175 estimate doesn't even include "the potential benefits associated with any changes in the climate that would be avoided as a result of the legislation." Those benefits could end up being enormous, especially given the potential impact of more severe weather on American agriculture. Finally, as a study by the University of Illinois, Yale University and the University of California concluded, a bill with strong energy efficiency incentives would create a net of 1.9 million jobs. Those are the facts, contrary to whatever Todd Young is claiming.
The NRDC Action Fund believes that it is important for the public in general, and the voters of specific Congressional districts, be aware of this information as they weigh their choices for November.
(A victory indeed. Pressure against Dems is most definitely not a waste of time - promoted by Chris Bowers)
Have you hugged your representative today?
Baron Hill (IN-09), who originally voted against the SCHIP expansion, has announced his intention to vote to override the President's veto.
Let's congratulate Baron Hill, and give him all the encouragement he can get!
* Jeffersonville Office phone is (812) 288-3999 (toll-free number) is 1-866-440-1321 fax is (812) 288-3873
* Bloomington Office phone is (812) 336-3000 fax is (812) 336-3355
* Washington office phone is (202) 225-5315 fax is (202) 226-6866
This is a tremendous event, regardless of the outcome. There is no doubt that the number of phone calls, emails, faxes, and in-person visits to his offices was a huge factor in this decision. Progressive activists, the Party, and the majority of Americans were working in the same direction toward a common goal. Lobbyist money can't compete with true grassroots activism, especially when it's combined with some institutional support.
Baron Hill sent out an email to supporters on Friday, explaining his continued opposition to expanding SCHIP.
Strangely, it doesn't mention the donations he receives from Big Tobacco, or that Indiana will pay more into the program because, well, we have more smokers.
First elected in 1998, defeated in 2004, and victorious in 2006 in one of the top races in the country, Baron Hill is a proud Blue Dog and fiscal conservative -- he has a national debt clock on his website. Our Bush Dog Spreadsheet notes that his district is R+07 and he has a 74.57 Progressive Punch score. He has voted with Democrats 89.5% of the time according to the Washington Post. He faced the same opponent in the last three elections, winning twice and losing once, and will probably face him again in 2008:
2006 He won with 50.0% of the vote.
2004 He lost with 49.0%
2002 He won with 51.1% of the vote.
2000 He won with 54.2%
1998 He won an open seat with 50.8%, succeeding Democrat Lee Hamilton.
I also noticed that there was been a huge increase in the libertarian vote in the last election, suggesting to me that there was dissatisfaction with the Republicans among those unwilling to vote for Democrats. In any case, the view that this district is challenging for Republicans and that Hill has to worry is obviously born out by these results. As you'd expect for one of the top 2006 battleground districts, a huge amount of money was spent on his behalf by all parts of the Democratic coalition: the Blue Dogs, MoveOn, unions, environmentalists, moderates, and most especially Democratic members of Congress. He even got $5000 from Wal Mart!
STATE BLOGS
