54-40 and fight: Looking at “toss-up race” Senate records

As of this weekend, the Cook Political Report (called “the bible of the political community” by former CBS evening news anchor Bob Schieffer) rates the battle for the Senate as: 54 seats held, safe or leaning to Democrats; 40 seats held, safe or leaning to Republican, and six seats rated as a toss-up.

All six of those toss-up seats are held by Republicans, and in all six the incumbent is running. Some running well. Some running poorly. Some running out of gas.

Four of them: North Carolina, Minnesota, Colorado, and Oregon, are centers of biofuels production or research.

Here’s a look at how the Toss Up Six rate on biofuels legislation.

Allard (CO)
Sen. Allard of Colorado joined 11 other senators who voted 12/13/07 for the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard, yet wrote to the EPA Administrator on 5/6/08 to waive its implementation. Sen. Allard voted against the Act when first presented 6/21/07.

Sen. Allard was a co-sponsor of S.1020, a bill to move toward energy independence through a coordinated development of renewable energy sources, including wave, solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels production.

Coleman (MN)
Senators Coleman voted for the EISA Act , and was a co-sponsor of S.872, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the excise tax provisions and income tax credit for biodiesel, and S.339, a bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology.

Sen. Coleman also was co-sponsor of S.36, a bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act to establish a biofuels promotion program to promote sustainable production of biofuels and biomass, and for other purposes. Sen. Coleman was also co-sponsor of S.1618, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for the production of a cellulosic biofuel.

Wicker (MS)
Senator Wicker was a co-sponsor of S.2973, a bill to promote the energy security of the United States.

Sununu (NH)
Senator Sununu voted for the Energy Independence Act. Sen. Sununu was also a co-sponsor of S.3031, a bill to amend the Clean Air Act to limit the use of ethanol to meet the renewable fuel standard.

Dole (NC)
Sen. Dole of North Carolina joined 11 other senators who voted 12/13/07 for the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard, yet wrote to the EPA Administrator on 5/6/08 to waive its implementation. Sen. Dole voted against the Act on 6/21/07.

She was a co-sponsor of S.1503, a bill to improve domestic fuels security. She was a co-sponsor of S.3031, a bill to amend the Clean Air Act to limit the use of ethanol to meet the renewable fuel standard.

Smith (OR)
Sen. Smith was a co-sponsor of S.AMDT.3616 (amnding HR 2419), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for the production of all cellulosic biofuels.

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