SPECIAL FEATURES:
Email
Paul Ryan's environmental record
The U.S. vice presidential candidate is a self-proclaimed 'avid outdoorsman,' but his policies often draw avid opposition from environmental advocates.
Fri, Aug 17 2012 at 10:30 AM
Related Topics:
Paul Ryan speaks at the National Press Club in 2011. (Photo: ZUMA Press)
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan is now a household name largely because he's Mitt Romney's running mate, but the Wisconsin Republican is no Sarah Palin. Rather than plucking a first-term governor from obscurity as John McCain did in 2008, Romney has picked a seven-term Beltway veteran — offering voters a lengthy record to either love or hate.
Ryan's main focus is on fiscal issues, since the former economics and political science major is chairman of the House Budget Committee. But he has developed a variety of opinions during his 13 years in Congress, including several related to environmental issues. Here's an overview of Ryan's environmental record:
Conservation
On his website's environment section, Ryan says "a clean environment and strong conservation programs are of the utmost concern to me." The 42-year-old bowhunter and mountain biker calls himself an "avid outdoorsman," and notes that he's an active member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. (He's also active indoors, thanks to his widely reported involvement in the P90X workout.)
Ryan's opposition to gun control has some fellow hunters swooning, and earned him an 'A' from the National Rifle Association. But when it comes to conserving wilderness where people can hunt or enjoy nature, Ryan's dedication has been lukewarm. In his Path to Prosperity budget plan, he suggests raising money by selling "millions of acres of unneeded federal land," evoking a recent U.K. forest-selling plan that ultimately failed amid public outcry. Critics also point to votes like the following (via OnTheIssues.org), which could raise doubts about Ryan's concern for conservation:
- Voted NO on protecting free-roaming horses and burros (2009)
- Voted YES on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species (2005)
- Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest-thinning projects (2003)
- Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling and development in ANWR (2001)
Ryan does seem more concerned about some conservation issues, though — especially those related to the Great Lakes, two of which touch his home state. He has supported the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a four-year plan to clean up pollution, fight invasive species and restore the region's wetlands. He's also worried about Asian carp, an exotic fish in the Mississippi River that could wreak havoc if it infiltrates Lake Michigan. He isn't worried about Wisconsin's native gray wolf, however, which he argues is no longer in danger of extinction. He supported the state's successful effort to end federal protection of wolves, allowing them to be legally hunted and trapped.
Climate change
While Romney often sends mixed signals about global warming, Ryan has made his stance quite clear. In a 2009 op-ed for the Racine Journal-Times, he implied that snow disproves climate change, writing that "economic restraint in the name of fighting global warming has been a tough sell in our communities, where much of the state is buried under snow." Responding to the since-debunked "Climategate" scandal, he alleged that scientists "intentionally mislead the public on the issue of climate change." And in 2010, he wrote that "there is growing disagreement among scientists about climate change and its causes," but cited no evidence for his claim.
Perhaps even more telling are the climate-related votes Ryan has cast in Congress, including these three:
- Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases (2011)
- Voted NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution (2009)
- Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol (2000)
Ryan doesn't spend a lot of time talking about his stance on climate change, and that may be wise for him. While a recent Yale study found that 55 percent of registered voters will consider candidates' views on global warming when deciding how to vote, it also found that "only 4 percent do not believe global warming is happening and will factor a candidate's views into their voting decision."
Energy
Ryan isn't a huge fan of renewable energy, consistently voting against federal incentives for solar, wind and other clean-power industries. And that's not because he simply opposes all government support for energy companies, since he has also voted against legislation that would remove federal subsidies for oil and gas firms:
- Voted NO on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets (2008)
- Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation (2008)
- Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy (2008)
- Voted NO on investing in homegrown biofuel (2007)
- Voted NO on removing oil and gas exploration subsidies (2007)
As for where that oil and gas should come from, Ryan's record is similarly straightforward. Aside from voting against a 2001 bill to prohibit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, he also voted in 2006 to nix a mortorium on offshore oil drilling, and voted in 2011 to open more of the Outer Continental Shelf to oil rigs. He's an advocate for U.S. energy independence, yet also supports the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, which he says "will not only lessen our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, but also create thousands of American jobs." At the same time, he opposes a wind-energy tax credit that supporters say could save 37,000 jobs.
Transportation
Given Ryan's support of the oil and gas industry — and the industry's support of him — it's little surprise he isn't enthusiastic about mass transit. Amtrak probably can't count him as an ally, for example, at least based on these votes:
- Voted NO on $9.7 billion for Amtrak upgrades/operation through 2013 (2008)
- Voted NO on increasing Amtrak funding by $214 million to $900 million (2006)
Ryan's priorities are well-established in his transportation voting record, including votes against bills that support public transit or alternative fuels and votes in favor of bills that support roads, airlines and pipelines. In regard to trains specifically, Ryan writes in his Path to Prosperity proposal that "high-speed rail and other new intercity rail projects should be pursued only if they can be established as self-supporting commercial services." He doesn't always apply that self-sufficiency test to roads, though — after voting for a major transportation bill in 2005, for instance, he issued a press release touting road-related earmarks for Wisconsin taxpayers, including nearly $10 million for two interstate projects and $3.2 million for a highway bypass.
***
Although Ryan is still serving in Congress, Washington's election-year gridlock and the demands of campaigning will likely mean his record doesn't evolve much between now and November. And like them or not, his environmental policies have already changed very little over the years — as these videos from 2008 and 2012 illustrate:
Related presidential politics stories on MNN:
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
You might also like:
Sign in with one of these accounts to add your comment.
EDITORS' PICKS
Advertisement
TODAY'S MOST POPULAR ON
- U.S. solider and stray cat save each other in Afghanistan
- Mount Everest conquered by 80-year old Japanese climber
- 15 famous people who mysteriously disappeared
- 10 false facts most people think are true
- Why we turn to dogs when disaster strikes
- Kidnapped women will have chance to adopt Ariel Castro's dogs
- 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion
- Why I don't wear sunscreen
- 9 habits that may do more harm than good
- World's oldest beehive discovered in ancient church
NEWSLETTER
ABOUT Russell McLendon
Russell blogs about the day's top science and eco-news.
Advertisement
You had my vote but now seeing where you stand no way am I helping put you in office, your stand on our wildlife sucks and that's not good enough for me among the other issues I can't figure out why and how Romney came down to you!
Would you expect less? He's just another Koch brothers puppet'
Ryan and Romney will: eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Pell Grants for education, lower taxes for the rich and increase costs for the middle class, cut food safety inspections, increase military spending even when the generals say it is not needed, and on the environment cut clean water and air programs and cave in to big business over our Earth.
Wow, they're going to do all that? You're sure of that? Did they show you their plans in advance because it sure doesn't sound like anything that I've heard them say.
ditto !
250,000 jobs per month and oh yesssss, I believe in the tooth fairy and the easter rabbit too!
All of that oil would go on the world market.Not a drop of it would stay in the U.S.
Look at the cards...if he become VP, won't be voting anymore.
Putting the government in charge of the environment will not save it.
Will your Rayan save it?
Putting business in charge will destroy it.