If there's any organization that holds feet of state politicians to the fire -- or at least to the bright light of public scrutiny -- on environmental issues, it is the Michigan League of Conservation Voters (MLCV).

It was co-sponsor of a recent forum at Central Michigan University for gubernatorial candidates. Of the five Republican candidates, only Senator Tom George of Kalamazoo and businessman Rick Snyder of Ann Arbor showed up. Of the two remaining Democrats, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernaro was the only participant.

As the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) does on Capitol Hill, MLVC issues annual scorecards on how lawmakers vote on a wide range of pollution control, funding, and a variety of other conservation and environmental issues.

The Michigan League's release this week of scorecards on 2009 votes of state senators and representatives is timely because many of them seek higher office this year.

In proclaiming May 15-21 as the 56th annual Michigan Week, Governor Jennifer Granholm said the state "is adorned with the riches of unspoiled nature...bountiful lakes, shimmering beaches" and other wonders that are touted to the nation in her administration's "Pure Michigan" ad program.

But as MLCV Director Emeritus Lana Pollack, a former senator and ex-president of the Michigan Environment Council, has observed, the places that the state touts to the nation "need champions."

Nationally, the LCV considers Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow as champions, giving them 100% ratings for 2008 and 2009. Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland), who is running for governor, was rated zero for 2008 and 7% for 2009. Representative Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), who is retiring, was 92-93, and Representative Dave Camp (R-Midland), who seeks reelection, was 0-21.

As of this writing, the Michigan League's 2009 scorecards were not available for publication. But MLCV Deputy Director Kerry Duggan was willing to provide "lifetime" scorecards for those involved in some 2010 races I inquired about.

Among those running for governor, Republican George has a lifetime average of 28%; House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township), 76%.

Among those seeking to replace Stupak, Representative Gary McDowell of Rudyard, the only Democrat still in the race, was rated at 92%. Sen. Jason Allen (R-Alanson), 25%.

Senator Michelle McManus of Lake Leelanau, seeking the GOP nomination for secretary of state, has an average of 20%, as does Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop of Rochester, seeking the GOP nomination for attorney general.

Duggan said, "The Senate has been a place where good bills go to die."

Leyton's Vow

As the endorsed candidate of the Democratic State Central Committee, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton is assured of being the state convention choice as Democratic nominee for attorney general.

In light of the focus of this column, during a phone chat as he drove to Traverse City for a state central meeting, we discussed environmental issues. He said that while public safety would be his top issue as AG, his second priority would be to "use the power of the attorney general to protect the Great Lakes and the environment."

He recalled that as a Flint Township board member he led an effort to get General Motors to clean up a dump site that now has six soccer fields.

Leyton, who has a summer home in Charlevoix overlooking Lake Michigan, plans an extended trip to the Upper Peninsula in June.

Mighty Mac's Mighty Man

The recent death of Larry Rubin at age 97 brought fond memories about the man who served as executive secretary for the Mackinac Bridge from its inception in 1950 until his retirement in 1983.

Simply, put, with all due respect to all of the 20th century politicians -- including Senator Prentiss M. Brown and Governor G. Mennen Williams -- who touted building of the bridge, Rubin made it happen.

"He was a fighter, fighting long and hard, organizing the early effort, when so many thought it could not be done," said ex-Governor Bill Milliken.

"Larry Rubin was synonymous with the Mackinac Bridge," said Governor Jennifer Granholm, who wasn't around when Rubin was the driving force on putting together the details that made it happen but said it well: "You cannot think of one without the other, and with good reason."

Tom Farrell, who as a United Press International reporter covered building and dedication of the bridge and later was spokesman for state departments dealing with transportation and other issues, said Rubin should rank "as one of the top 10 employees of the State of Michigan" of all times.

"Send In A Pro"

Former athletes in Michigan have done well in politics. None better than the late President Gerald R. Ford, a former University of Michigan lineman who had 25 years in the House, eight as Republican leader.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's years with the Detroit Pistons put him in the Basketball Hall of Fame. There's also retiring Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky), who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after a pitching career that included a 1958 no-hitter for the Detroit Tigers and a perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964.

Among ex-pro athletes running as Republicans for office across the country are ex-NBA player Chris Dudley in Oregon, who last week won his political rookie bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, and in New Jersey NFL All-Pro lineman Jon Runyan, running for Congress.

In Michigan, Jay Riemersma, a former tight end for the University of Michigan, Buffalo Bills, and Pittsburgh Steelers who has been a regional director for the Family Research Council, is one of four seeking the Republican nomination for Hoekstra's seat in the 2nd Congressional District.

In airing his first TV ad last week he said that while he might be best known "for scoring touchdowns,” in the House "I want to be known for cutting taxes, protecting our pro-life conservative values, and stopping Washington's reckless spending.

“Look, the career politicians aren't cutting it. So it's time to send in a pro."

Riemersma is out of the conservative mold of a Buffalo Bills quarterback who went on to Congress: Jack Kemp, who had a notable political career that included being the 1996 Republican nominee for vice president.

Register Reporters?

Last week, I called it "a goofy game" when Senator Bruce Patterson (R-Canton) introduced Senate Bill 1289 calling for newspaper readers to pay a deposit on each newspaper they buy just as we pay now for some bottles and cans. He called from the Senate floor to object to my referring to an Antrim Review column saying he had called it a "tongue-in-cheek" move to get papers to call him so he can unload about the need for them to do a better job of reporting on how bad things are in Lansing.

He said the operative word should be "provocative. ...I'm attempting to provoke people to think."

He said he had asked Senator Patricia Birkholtz (R-Saugatuck Township), who chairs the committee where the bill rests, to not even take it up. When he put her on the phone to confirm that, I think I detected a soft laugh when she said ignoring the bill "fits very well with my thinking."

(Patterson, who has endorsed Attorney General Mike Cox for governor, says Birkholtz, who chairs the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee and gets a good nod from MLCV for working out bipartisan solutions, would be a good Cox running mate. She would.)

When I asked Patterson why he abandoned his consideration of running for attorney general, he said,"I'm too forthright and frank. ...I'm an irascible curmudgeon."

Indeed.

Little did I know that day that he also had introduced SB 1323 to amend a 1980 act creating an occupational code that provides for boards to register barbers and 25 other occupations.

His Board of Michigan Registered Reporters would review credentials of those of "good moral character" reporting for "any electronic or written medium, including, but not limited to, newspapers, television, radio, and Internet."

But reporters of shoddy morals/credentials need not worry. The last four lines of the fivepage bill, after setting all the standards of being registered, say, "However, a person is not required to become registered under this article to be employed as, or use, the generic label or title of reporter, broadcaster, member of the media, or other similar term."

Whew!

George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.