League of Conservation Voters

League of Conservation Voters
Formation 1969[1]
Founder David Brower[1]
Type 501(c)(4) with associated political action committee and super PAC[1]
Purpose Environmental advocacy
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
President
 Gene Karpinski
Mission "To turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities."[2]
Website www.lcv.org

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is an American liberal political advocacy organization that assists political candidates who it believes support a pro-environment agenda. LCV states that it "advocates for sound environmental laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions, and elects pro-environment candidates."[2] The organization pursues its goals through voter education, voter mobilization, and direct contributions to political candidates. LCV includes 30 state affiliates.

LCV was founded in 1969 by environmentalist David Brower. The group's president is Gene Karpinski. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. [3]

Activities

The organization's main activities include tracking voting records, endorsing or opposing candidates for political office, and financially contributing to political campaigns.

The organization financially supports political candidates, most of whom are members of the Democratic Party.[4] According to the Center for Responsive Politics, LCV was the top-spending, non-disclosing liberal group in the 2012 election cycle, investing about $11 million in political advertisements.[5] LCV spent a total of $36 million in 2012.[6]

LCV tracks the voting records of members of Congress on environmental issues in its National Environmental Scorecard. The group's scorecard typically awards considerably higher grades to Democratic lawmakers than to Republican legislators.[7]

LCV annually names a “Dirty Dozen,” a list of politicians whom the group aims to defeat because of their voting records on conservation issues.[1] The original "Dirty Dozen" list was developed in partnership with Environmental Action in 1970.[8]

LCV strongly opposed many of President George W. Bush's environmental policies.[9]

Green Tech Action Fund and the Advocacy Fund are among LCV's donors.[4]

In 2014, LCV and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund launched LeadingGreen, a joint initiative to address climate change. In 2015, LeadingGreen was added to the Democracy Alliance's funding portfolio.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "League of Conservation Voters". FactCheck.org (Annenberg Center for Public Policy). February 13, 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 "About Us". League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Sabato, Larry; Ernst, Howard (2009). Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections. Infobase Publishing. p. 201. ISBN 9781438109947.
  4. 1 2 O'Brien, Reity (October 3, 2012). "Nonprofit profile: League of Conservation Voters Inc.". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "League of Conservation Voters". OpenSecrets.org. Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Beckel, Michael (November 22, 2013). "League of Conservation Voters becoming 'dark money' heavyweight". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Tom (March 4, 2015). "Environmental scorecard released for Ohio lawmakers". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Alligood, Arlene (October 29, 1970). "Two big political issues of Election '70". St. Petersburg Times. Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Pegg, J.R. "League of Conservation Voters Slams Bush Record". Environment News Service. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  10. ↑ Vogel, Kenneth; Restuccia, Andrew (April 13, 2015). "Tom Steyer stars as liberal donors gather". Politico. Retrieved 20 April 2015.

External links

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