Women’s Issues
Andal's voting record on women's issues has been controversial in the past.
He was the only State Assembly member to vote against expanding the legal definition of rape to include situations in which women are unable to resist because they are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. The bill passed on a 73-1 vote. (AB 85X, 8/31/94, Concurrence).
Andal had previously voted against preventing employers from requiring women to wear dresses to work. The bill passed on a 42-30 vote (AB 3672, 5/27/94).
On September 17, 2008 Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) and Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) sent an open letter to the women voters of the 11th Congressional District to call attention to Dean Andal’s extreme stance on women’s issues. The letter pointed out specific votes he cast during his tenure as an Assemblyman.
Criticisms
STOCKTON, CA – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), which works to turn environmental values into national priorities, today added Dean Andal to its 2008 “Dirty Dozen” list.* Andal’s abysmal record on energy and environmental issues make him one of the worst candidates for federal office in the nation.
“Californians are paying over $4.50 per gallon for gasoline, and deserve a representative who will work to end our nation’s dependence on oil, and fight for alternative energy sources,” LCV Senior Vice President Tony Massaro said. “Andal has consistently voted against fuel efficiency programs and measures to slow global warming. His current proposals echo the failed policies of the Bush Administration that created the situation we’re in now. If elected, Andal will help the oil industry dismantle the laws that protect California’s coastline from oil spills from tankers and offshore drilling while doing nothing to reduce the price of gasoline.”
Andal, a developer in Stockton, received an embarrassing 9% lifetime score from the California League of Conservation Voters. His opponent, Representative Jerry McNerney, was a wind energy consultant who has voted in favor of clean energy and environmental protection nine times out of ten.**
“This year, Californians have a clear choice between a proven leader who has spent his life working to find alternative energy sources, and a developer who has habitually opposed clean energy,” Massaro continued.
Andal’s dirty record betrays his disingenuous pro-environment campaign rhetoric. During his time as state representative, Andal voted against legislation banning offshore drilling, and against another measure requiring oil companies to find a safe alternative to oil tankers which pose a serious danger to the coast. Furthermore, Andal routinely opposed legislation promoting fuel efficiency and cutting petroleum use, measures that would save consumers hundreds of dollars each year.
“Hints of scandal and one of the worst voting records on energy in California: Dean Andal’s doing the Pombo Mambo,” Massaro concluded.
*LCV's trademark "Dirty Dozen" program targets current and former members of Congress - regardless of party affiliation - who consistently vote against the environment and are running in races where LCV has a serious chance of affecting the outcome. Other 2008 members include Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Mary Landrieu, former Congressman Bob Schaffer, Congressman Steve Pearce, Senator Jim Inhofe, Congressman Sam Graves and Senator Ted Stevens. The rest of the Dirty Dozen will be announced in the coming weeks.
**The non-partisan LCV Scorecard is a nationally accepted yardstick used to rate Members of Congress on conservation and clean energy issues. Based on key conservation votes in the House and Senate, it is often used by the media to quickly describe a Member's record. For more information, visit www.lcv.org/scorecard.
