Comments on: Alabama Reps Score Red on Green Report Card http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/02/alabama-reps-score-red-on-green-report-card/ A Wide Open Weblog for Big News, the Big Picture Thu, 24 May 2012 14:15:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Glynn Wilson http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/02/alabama-reps-score-red-on-green-report-card/comment-page-1/#comment-3959 Glynn Wilson Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:09:01 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=6350#comment-3959 Not sure what all the technical issues are, but could probably help you figure it out as a stats expert. On the other hand, a quantitative measure based simply on voting doesn't catch other nuances. It is quite clear, for example, that Davis is no environmentalist, in spite of his score in this report. There's no way he deserves a B, but then, he would never tell anyone about getting a B on a conservation report card, since his entire campaign is clearly focused on being seen as he has said in his own words, "One of the most conservative Democrats in the House." He is after big business support, not voters who care about the environment. I suspect he would be scared to death his opponent would get hold of this and use it against him in TV ads... Not sure what all the technical issues are, but could probably help you figure it out as a stats expert.

On the other hand, a quantitative measure based simply on voting doesn’t catch other nuances. It is quite clear, for example, that Davis is no environmentalist, in spite of his score in this report.

There’s no way he deserves a B, but then, he would never tell anyone about getting a B on a conservation report card, since his entire campaign is clearly focused on being seen as he has said in his own words, “One of the most conservative Democrats in the House.”

He is after big business support, not voters who care about the environment.

I suspect he would be scared to death his opponent would get hold of this and use it against him in TV ads…

]]> By: ConservationAL http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/02/alabama-reps-score-red-on-green-report-card/comment-page-1/#comment-3958 ConservationAL Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:42:15 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=6350#comment-3958 A state version is not as easy as it sounds, primarily because most environmental bills get stuck in committee, making it difficult to assess all equally. There's also the quirkiness of the BIR - budget isolation resolution - which, if defeated, means a bill doesn't come up for consideration. Can you say a legislator voted against a bill when they voted against the BIR? An argument could be made either way. Nonetheless, a scorecard for the state is coming, but more likely in 2011. A state version is not as easy as it sounds, primarily because most environmental bills get stuck in committee, making it difficult to assess all equally. There’s also the quirkiness of the BIR – budget isolation resolution – which, if defeated, means a bill doesn’t come up for consideration. Can you say a legislator voted against a bill when they voted against the BIR? An argument could be made either way.

Nonetheless, a scorecard for the state is coming, but more likely in 2011.

]]> By: Glynn Wilson http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/02/alabama-reps-score-red-on-green-report-card/comment-page-1/#comment-3957 Glynn Wilson Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:56:39 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=6350#comment-3957 Guess they have decent Senators, unlike Alabama. This is only the U.S. Senate map. What is needed is a state version of this for candidates for governor, attorney general, etc., as well as the Legislature. Guess they have decent Senators, unlike Alabama. This is only the U.S. Senate map.

What is needed is a state version of this for candidates for governor, attorney general, etc., as well as the Legislature.

]]> By: Yana Davis http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/02/alabama-reps-score-red-on-green-report-card/comment-page-1/#comment-3956 Yana Davis Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:22:27 +0000 http://blog.locustfork.net/?p=6350#comment-3956 No surprise about Alabama. It is a little surprising to see Arkansas and Virginia with the same shade of green as California, though. No surprise about Alabama.

It is a little surprising to see Arkansas and Virginia with the same shade of green as California, though.

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