It can't be easy being Andy Dillon. It has to take a lot of work to deliberately throw every major Democratic voting block under the bus on a regular basis-and then have the nerve to ask the base for support in his run for Governor. First he tossed the pro-choice folks under the bus when he allowed for, and voted on, a ban on partial-birth abortions. Nevermind they don't even do the procedure in this state, making the vote a total waste of time. Then there was the moment he tossed the unions under the bus by deciding to gut the health care plans of public employees.
And now, Clean Water Action has made their list of the best and worst legislators for the 2009-2010 legislative session. Guess whose on top- of the worst list?
Speaker Andy Dillon (HD 17) and Energy and Technology Committee Chairman Jeff Mayes (HD 96) - both Democrats- top this year's list of Worst Lawmakers because of their relentless efforts as leaders to block clean energy policies. Dillon received a dismal 40% score and Mayes fell near the bottom of our Legislative Scorecard among Democrats with a 70% score.
From their press release (and my inbox):
"For the past two years there has been a substantial majority in the state House to pass strong clean energy measures, but there has been an utter failure at the top in political leadership," said Cyndi Roper, Michigan Director of Clean Water Action. "Bills get introduced, speeches are made, and then nothing happens. This has been the story for nearly two years now and Speaker Dillon and Chairman Mayes are responsible. The consequences of these leadership failures are that Michigan is falling behind its competitors for clean energy jobs. "
......
Roper said when the Legislature passed energy legislation in 2008 it was with the understanding that those bills were a first step and that stronger legislation would follow in 2009. Instead, said Roper, Speaker Dillon embarked on a campaign to get more dirty coal plants built and frustrated attempts to move clean energy bills. His selection of Mayes as Chair of the energy committee proved to be fatal to clean energy legislation.
Andy, let's just pretend that maybe (and according to the polls right now it's a big maybe) you squeak by in the primary based on your name recognition. How do you expect to win the general election when most of your "base" doesn't even like you?
