Pat Toomey is running for the U.S. Senate while standing in the crosshairs of the League of Conservation Voters. The LCV named Toomey to the 2010 Dirty Dozen list, which takes aim at members of Congress who support policies harmful to the environment.

 

The former Pennsylvania congressman currently has a lifetime LCV score of 11 percent, which is described by the group as “abysmal.” The LCV points out that Toomey opposed repealing subsidies to Big Oil and voted against increasing mileage standards for American vehicles. The LCV also says Toomey has received $294,00 from energy interests including more than $100,000 from the oil and gas industry. Perhaps the last straw is Toomey's continued support for offshore oil development off the Gulf Coast and shores of Lake Erie.

 

“From drilling for oil in the Great Lakes to opposing legislation that creates clean energy jobs, his extreme views on energy policy put him far outside the mainstream and easily earn him a spot on the Dirty Dozen,” said LCV Senior Vice President for Political Affairs Tony Massaro. As a member of the Dirty Dozen, Toomey will now face a targeted campaign from the LCV, including the YouTube video posted below.

 

Toomey is running against Pennsylvania Democratic congressman Joe Sestak. Both men are running to replace Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.). Current polls show the race is very close. 

 

Others members of the Dirty Dozen are Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Reps. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and former Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) Former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) was the first candidate of the 2010 Dirty Dozen to be defeated.