LCV names McConnell 'Don of the Dirty Dozen'

This week, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) added Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) to its "Dirty Dozen" list, after an online vote of LCV members selected the four-term incumbent as the "most egregious" offender of the environment.

A statement released by the LCV noted McConnell accumulated a lifetime 7 percent approval score from their organization.

The LCV release also referenced previous McConnell ads proclaiming the Senator as the "Godfather of Green" for support of municipal parks in Kentucky.

"Our members know that Mitch McConnell has voted against our health and safety since he came to Washington. They know that he stands as an impassable roadblock in the way of a clean energy future for this country,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “That’s why McConnell, this ‘Godfather of Green,’ is the new ‘Don’ of the Dirty Dozen.”

The "Dirty Dozen" list includes the LCV's targets in forthcoming elections "where LCV has a serious chance of affecting the outcome," read the statement.

"In 2006, our members brought down nine members of the Dirty Dozen, nine of the worst politicians in Washington. With that kind of record, this Dirty Dozen election may be the last vote that Senator McConnell ever wins,” said Karpinski.

The campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Mike Cassaro - one of seven competitors in the Democratic primary - took particular notice of the LCV's decision.

"Mitch McConnell’s claim to be the 'Godfather of Green' bemuses Mike Cassaro. [Cassaro] heartily agrees with the League’s assessment of Mitch McConnell’s environmental record," read a release from Cassaro's camp. "For 23 years, Mitch McConnell has done very little, if anything, to clean up Kentucky’s water, air, and land. He has also belittled anybody who talks about global warming. McConnell’s environmental awakening is totally poll driven."

Cassaro's statement also laid out the candidate's plans for "pro-environmental" legislation, and said Cassaro and his family abide by "pro-environmental" practices at home.

"Mike would co-sponsor proposals for developing alternative sources of energy, such as fusion. He is especially interested in promoting sustainable farming, which preserves value of our soils and without damaging the crops," said the release. "Mike and his family have an environmentally responsible life style. Their life style includes heating the house with renewable energy source, wood, and growing and eating organically grown vegetables. Mike and his wife have also taught his two teenagers the importance of being environmentally responsible."