Meeting with Representative Elise Stefanik on March 3, 2017, in her Glens Falls office ----
by Sandra Weber (and Greta Heilman)
We were the first group of the day (at 10am) and had 25 minutes to talk to her. We mainly focused on environmental issues and health care.
Rep. Stefanik agreed that global warming was a direct result of human activity (and fossil fuel use) and she supports a "comprehensive solution."
On the environment, she represented herself as the most pro-environmental Republican Congressperson, stating that the Republican Congressmen who had better records then her retired last year. She said she was "proud of being the top Republican." However, based on her voting record, she was rated as only 29% pro-environment. She re-iterated that she was the most independent and bi-partisan Republican in Congress. Regarding the rating of 29%, she said the rating was unfair because she did not have prior knowledge of which votes would be counted in the rating. This seems to imply that she cares more about her rating number than the environment---that perhaps she would change her vote simply to get a better score.
Rep. Stefanik agreed that global warming was a direct result of human activity (and fossil fuel use) and she supports a "comprehensive solution."
On the environment, she represented herself as the most pro-environmental Republican Congressperson, stating that the Republican Congressmen who had better records then her retired last year. She said she was "proud of being the top Republican." However, based on her voting record, she was rated as only 29% pro-environment. She re-iterated that she was the most independent and bi-partisan Republican in Congress. Regarding the rating of 29%, she said the rating was unfair because she did not have prior knowledge of which votes would be counted in the rating. This seems to imply that she cares more about her rating number than the environment---that perhaps she would change her vote simply to get a better score.
Rep. Stefanik said that her vote on the coal waste was because she believes it was basically an overreaching last-minute action by the Obama administration, and if they thought it was more important they would have addressed it sooner in the administration. She thought the issue should be dealt with in legislation, rather than by a rule. She made this point this several times in regard to other issues. She wants Congress to legislate instead of someone making rules (presumably executive orders and executive agencies).
Carl talked about the history of pollution in the Adirondacks and dead lakes, etc., and mentioned how dependent Adirondack tourism and economy is on a healthy environment. Stefanik said she is supportive of energy efficiency, and is a "very strong advocate" of green energy. She said she voted against eliminating the EPA and does not support "defunding the EPA."
However, she voted for drilling operations in the Artic Ocean and emphatically defended her vote based on "national security" and the need for the US to be less dependent on outside sources for their energy needs.
Carl talked about the history of pollution in the Adirondacks and dead lakes, etc., and mentioned how dependent Adirondack tourism and economy is on a healthy environment. Stefanik said she is supportive of energy efficiency, and is a "very strong advocate" of green energy. She said she voted against eliminating the EPA and does not support "defunding the EPA."
However, she voted for drilling operations in the Artic Ocean and emphatically defended her vote based on "national security" and the need for the US to be less dependent on outside sources for their energy needs.
As I left the meeting, I thanked Rep. Stefanik and talked to her about the Portrait Monument (Woman Suffrage Statue) that stands in the Rotunda of the US Capitol. She had not been able to locate the statue yet, so I told her where it is and presented her with a signed copy of my book about the statue and its history. She seemed genuinely interested in the subject and quite surprised that I, a constituent from her district, had authored the book. I hope she reads it and finds some inspiration there.
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