Dear Senator:

On behalf of our millions of members, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to turn environmental values into national, state, and local priorities.  Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental Scorecard, which details the voting records of members of Congress on environmental legislation.  The Scorecard is distributed to LCV members, concerned voters nationwide, and the media. 

We urge you to oppose the nomination of Mick Mulvaney for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mulvaney denies the scientific consensus on climate change and has repeatedly voted against environmental safeguards, earning an appalling 7% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard.  He repeated his denial about climate science in his confirmation hearing and stated that he did not see the relevance between climate science and the position of OMB director.  Mulvaney has also rejected the scientific consensus on other issues such as the link between the Zika virus and birth defects.

In addition to his extremely poor environmental record, Mulvaney has radical views about the role of government. As a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, Mulvaney has questioned the need for government funded scientific research and supported gutting government initiatives that aim to reduce carbon pollution and ensure adequate clean air standards. As Director of OMB, Mulvaney would have the power to dramatically weaken environmental and public health safeguards at a time when it could not be more critical that we have an OMB director who values science and will stand up for them. What’s more, Mulvaney declared that shutting down the government in 2013 was “good policy,” which harmed the environment in myriad ways, including closing our national parks and wildlife refuges and halting the enforcement of rules to protect the public’s drinking water and air. 

Mulvaney’s hostility toward science, public health and the environment and his extreme anti-government views are disqualifying for a position with significant authority over our system of public protections and the federal budget. We urge you to oppose his nomination, and we will strongly consider including this confirmation vote in the 2017 Scorecard.  If you need more information, please call my office at (202) 785-8683 and ask to speak with a member of our government relations team.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski

President