In a op/ed piece in The Morning Call, Sierra Club activists point out Representative Dent’s poor environmental record:

The Nov. 23 story about the friendship of Congressmen Charlie Dent and Jim Gerlach glosses over the reality of Mr. Dent’s poor environmental voting record. While the thrust of the article is the similar voting records of the congressmen, one phrase stands out as a significant misrepresentation: ‘‘On environmental issues, Gerlach’s voting record is a tad greener.’‘

The non-partisan League of Conservation Voters, supported by leading environmental groups, tracks the key environmental votes of all members of the Congress. Their scorecard shows Mr. Dent with a one-term voting average of just 7 percent while Mr. Gerlach’s two-term voting average is 56 percent. That’s a whale of a difference, not just a ‘‘tad.’‘ Mr. Dent’s record ranks him solidly with the anti-environmental block in the House of Representatives.

Now in his second term, we hope that Mr. Dent will get closer to the feelings of the people of the Lehigh Valley, where every poll of the last 10 years shows massive support for environmental issues. Two major energy bills are coming to a vote in the Congress, and we are cautiously optimistic that Mr. Dent will support the Renewable Electricity Standards Bill and the bill to increase the CAFÉ Standards (more miles per gallon) for cars, SUVs, and light trucks.

The improved automotive fuel efficiency bill will save our valuable domestic oil supplies and billions of dollars for consumers at the pumps, while avoiding sending money abroad. We currently import 60 percent of our oil. The renewable electricity bill will increase production of clean domestic energy from wind, solar and biomass sources. Both bills will provide a substantial number of jobs for Pennsylvania. With Mr. Dent’s support, it will be a win-win for the country and Pennsylvania, and Mr. Dent will be more than a ‘‘tad’‘ greener.

Holly Cadwallader, Smithfield Township
David McGuire, Allentown
The writers are co-chairs of the Lehigh Valley Group of the Sierra Club. Editor