Rep. Tom Tancredo

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Tom Tancredo hasn't made energy or global warming central parts of his campaign, which focuses first on immigration. In statements about energy policy, he focuses on weaning the nation off of foreign oil as a primary goal, with secondary environmental benefits.

He has not received notable endorsements from environmental organizations in the past.

During his time holding national office, Tancredo has an 11 lifetime score on the League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. The Scorecard rates national office holders on a scale of 0 to 100 based on their votes on environmental issues on which LCV has taken a position. Between 2001 and 2006, he twice scored zero and never scored higher than 38. On a similar scorecard for Republican members of Congress by the Republicans for Environmental Protection, Tancredo averaged 13 out of 100 in 2005 and 2006.

The 2008 Tancredo campaign has taken $7,050 from the oil and gas industry, ranking him 7th among eight Republicans and 13th overall among the 15 candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Tom Tancredo's Energy and Environmental Platform at a Glance

Tom Tancredo has only given one prominent interview on the subject of energy and environment, and these points are derived from that Oct. 11 interview with Grist and Outside Magazine.

CLIMATE

• Would be skeptical of any cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions.

• Support research and development of alternative energy technology, like biofuels.
• Remove subsidies for oil companies, except those that support research and development.
• Remove barriers to fossil fuel exploration and extraction in the the United States, including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and off shore.
• Support nuclear power industry.
• Support development of coal gasification power plants and coal liquid fuels.

• Require federal agencies to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles.

• Reduce agricultural subsidies, except where they keep farms in business and preserve farming skills.

Sources:

• League of Conservation Voters
• The Heat Is On, a partnership project of the LCV Education Fund
• Tom Tancredo's Campaign Web site
• Center for Responsive Politics
• Republicans for Environmental Protection

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