Maine's Susan Collins (R) was one of just three senators to receive a perfect score on the League of Conservation Voters' 2007 scorecard. The next-closest Republican on the list was Collins' home-state colleague, Olympia Snowe, who earned an 80 percent mark.
Collins' lifetime score after 11 years in office is significantly lower -- 68 percent. But over the years she has earned praise from enviros for supporting legislation to remove subsidies for oil and gas exploration, ban drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, promote development of biomass energy technology, and address CO2 emissions -- all moves that set her apart from many in her party.
But this year, Collins is facing a challenge from Democrat Tom Allen, who says that, among other things, he'll be better on the environment than the incumbent.
Full Story: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/9/25/14133/7205?source=daily
