©2026 League of Conservation Voters
1971 Scorecard Vote
50
44
5
Issues
Vote on the confirmation of Dr. Earl L. Butz as Secretary of Agriculture. (Executive Report 92-13). This is a key environmental position, since the Agriculture Department controls federal policies on forestry, stream channelization, and farming practices, and has partial jurisdiction over pesticides. Dr. Butz is a friend of big agribusiness corporations that are driving the small farmer off the land and promoting farming methods that increase our dependency on pesticides. His nomination was opposed not only by environmental groups, but also by farm and consumer organizations. Butz is openly antagonistic to the environmental movement, calling it “the real threat to American agriculture.” (Nomination confirmed 51-44. December 2, 1971. “No” is the correct vote.)
©2026 League of Conservation Voters