Legislator scorecard

The League of Conservation Voters said Burns, Baucus, and Rehberg passed an energy bill that will result in more air and water pollution. They also said this bill gives breaks to energy companies.

A member of the conservation group said lobbying is the reason Montana senators and the representative voted the way they did. “I think the reason is big money lobbying and influence of lobbyists, the oil lobby, the coal lobby. The influence of the old way, the old guard having their way,” said Julia Page with Montana Conservation Voters.

So here's how the Montana delegation voted, according to the 2005 national environmental scorecard on environmental issues. Senator Conrad Burns voted for conservation measures 5% of the time. Senator Max Baucus voted in favor of environmental issues 55% of the time while Congressman Denny Rehberg voted for conservation issues 11% of the time.

Now, Senator Burns' office said the group doesn't see all the environmental issues the senator has voted on. “Cutting edge research on whirling disease, also brucellosis vaccine work which is a key component, something important for our livestock industry. DNA research on Grizzly Bears in Glacier National Park,” said Senator Burns' Rep Dennis Carlson.

Carlson also said he's voted favor of conserving public lands.