53%
Received an “F” rating from the League of Conservation Voters last Congressional session.
“Protecting our environment is critical to preserving our way of life.” - Mark Kirk
A Friend to Big Oil
...Who Claims to be a Friend of the Environment
Voted for supporting “liquid-coal” power that the Sierra Club described as “arguably the dirtiest, most expensive energy gamble we could take.”
One month prior to voting for liquid coal Kirk stated “I've always been pro-environment.”
Voted to weaken clean air standards and allow the oil industry to avoid environmental protections.
Mark Kirk has received over $50,000 from the big oil and gas companies.
“It's time for some truth in advertising; BP should live up to the millions of dollars it spends to convince the public that it is environmentally friendly.”
- Mark Kirk, 7/27/07
Kirk received a $1000 contribution from BP, the same company trying to increase dumping in Lake Michigan.
“I don't buy at BP anymore.”
- Mark Kirk, 8/22/07
Pushed to open up new offshore oil drilling sites by spreading the debunked myth that China was drilling off the coast of Cuba.
"It makes no sense to allow the Chinese to drill on the Cuban side of the line in Florida without us tapping into the very same oil fields… It makes perfect sense that the United States makes sure our teams gets that same oil before Castro does."
- Mark Kirk, 6/19/08
Kirk's claims are an “urban legend favored by those wishing to lend urgency to proposals to ramp up off-shore drilling.”
- Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune