Dear Editor,

For over 50 years, I have worked to protect and conserve our natural environment. Presently, my efforts emphasize defending our environment from the giant corporations' greedy efforts (especially oil, gas and coal corporations) to destroy much of it for their profits, and promoting alternative energy sources.

I heard that Congressman Tom McClintock usually voted for big energy companies' desires and against conservation measures, so I looked up is record on the League of Conservation Voters Scorecard (lcv.org). The organization rates congresspersons on environmental voting, using various measures such as clean air and water, wilderness protection, public health, conservation and energy sources, etc.

According to LCV, McClintock has a very poor environmental voting record. In 2010, he got a 0% rating, meaning he had no environmental protection votes, and in 2011, he got a 4% rating, simply because he voted for agricultural subsidies.

He voted against: stopping global warming pollution; regulations for mercury and other toxic air pollutants; stopping offshore drilling in the fragile Arctic; clean water safeguards; stopping mountain-top removal mining; and weatherization assistance for homeowners.

So indeed, he has supported big oil, gas and coal corporations in their continuing contamination and destruction of our environment.

Let's get a more modern and independent representative in Congress for the Central Valley and Sierra foothills. We might see some innovative and healthy improvements for our environment -- at the least, protection of our local air and water quality.

Diane Marks, Bass Lake