MI-09: Joe Knollenberg First House Target on Dirty Dozen List

On Tuesday, the League of Conservation Voters named the first two members of the "Dirty Dozen" list of the 12 worst members of Congress on environmental issues.

The first additions to the 2008 Dirty Dozen are Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) and Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI09).

We all know where Inhofe stands on the environment. If you can justify ignoring the threat of global warming by claiming it is a scam to raise the Weather Channel's ratings, then you can justify voting against any environmental protections. However, I was very glad to see the LCV recognize that Joe Knollenberg is in the same class as Inhofe.

You may not have heard of Joe Knollenberg. He is the Republican Ranking Member of an Appropriations Sub Committee, and brags about all the money he has "secured" for local interests, taking advantage of earmarks, on his website. But his record on issues important to 9th district voters is atrocious. The LCV gives him a lifetime score of just 7%.

In fact, an amendment that bans the EPA from hosting educational seminars about global warming is known as the "Knollenberg Amendment".

MI-09 is arguably the most progressive district in Michigan. Polling on social issues shows that 9th District voters stand with us on a woman's right to choose, stem cell research, protecting our environment for future generations, and moving in a new direction. It is about time for us to get a new Representative in Congress!

The LCV adding Knollenberg to the Dirty Dozen list was the earliest any member of Congress has been targeted by the group. This isn't the first early buzz we've seen in MI-09 however. The AFL-CIO announced their earliest ever endorsement for Democratic candidate Gary Peters.

For more early buzz, yesterday Peters for Congress announced raising $217k from over 430 individuals in just 6 weeks of campaigning. Over $41k came from ActBlue, where the average donation was under $250.

Everything about this district seems to be moving quickly...before Gary even announced he would run for Congress, Knollenberg was already attacking him.

MI-09 will be one of the hottest races in 2008.

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•  Tips / Recommends

  Happy Friday!

  by Jordan LFW on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 04:02:02 AM PDT

  •  Thanks for this. At last, a diary that

    isn't about Al Gore running (or not), bashing Hillary, a love-in for Obama/Edwards, etc. but instead gives us solid information about how to take action to (gasp) elect Democrats!

    Yeah, I know, there are a plenty of those-- but they too often seem to scroll away before they get proper attention these days. This is, ultimately, the mission of dKos, after all: To elect Democrats. Rec'd, and I'd rec it twice if I could!

    by tigerdog on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 05:44:37 AM PDT

•  Knollenberg's picture is in Webster's

  under the definitions for slimeball, hypocrite and jerk.

  I say that as a former Michigan resident (for 40+ years).

  by sxwarren on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 04:16:47 AM PDT

•  I found his picture under "Cro-Magnon"

  by LRT on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 04:26:06 AM PDT

•  Joe Knollenberg sucks but vote 4 Nancy Skinner

  Sorry but if Gary Peters is the one running the swiftboat campaign against Nancy then he's not going to treat his constituents any better.

  by Silence is Complicity on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 04:26:47 AM PDT

  •  Bullshit

    Yours is a wholly irresponsible comment.  

    I saw Peters talk to our township's Deocratic club the other night, and the only time her name was mention by Peters was in the context of how well she did last cycle. This is the third time I've seen him talk, and he had not said anything bad about her on any of these occasions.  There's no need to throwing a loaded word like swiftboating around.

    by GOTV on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 05:02:22 AM PDT

    •  I've seen the swiftboating at other sites

      and it's completely reprehensible.  So if you want to say "Bull Shit" then go for it; however, in the printed realm, his advocates have been less honest.  (PS.  It's very obvious when their comments use rumor and innuendo against her and their sig-line says, "Support Peters..."  (And this early in the race you know that the supporters are more 'involved' with the candidates.)

      Sorry.  But that turned me completely off the dude forever!  

      by Silence is Complicity on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 11:57:53 AM PDT

      •  Wait a minute

        You're judging his campaign by the actions of a few supporters?  I would hope, at least, that your support for Democrats runs a little bit deeper than that.

        I know the rumors you're talking about, and I can assure you that you'll never hear Peters himself say anything about it.  And, after all, isn't it the candidate one votes for and not his or her supporters?
         
        I'm sorry if I was a bit edgy, but to accuse Peters of swiftboating anyone, even Knollenberg, is out of line.

        by GOTV on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 01:09:13 PM PDT

        •  I hope he's asked his supporter to cut the crap.

          But I do understand what you're saying.  But Bush's supporters smeared and swiftboated Kerry and Bush stepped back and let their words speak for him.  I haven't seen Peters ask his supporters to stick to the issues he/we care about: end the occupation, end the corruption, get universal healthcare and public financed campaigns...

          I will watch to see if he asks his supporters to stop.

          by Silence is Complicity on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 07:35:25 PM PDT

•  The Knollenberg Amendment?

  You mean he actually has his name on something other than campaign contribution checks?  Hell, the only thing he's ever done in congress is to get himself re-elected.

  by GOTV on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 04:57:07 AM PDT

•  As a veteran

  in Knollenberg's district he is useless. Asking for help with the VA process you get from him the typical form letter. I will look into your problem.

          To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.
  Elbert Hubbard

  by Class of 72 on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 05:00:29 AM PDT