WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a liberal Democrat, scored lowest among the Hawai'i congressional delegation members in the League of Conservation Voters annual vote ratings for Congress.

Abercrombie received a score of 70 percent in voting with the league's positions on conservation and environmental issues last year.

The delegation's top scorer was freshman U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono at 90 percent followed by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka at 87 percent and U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye at 80 percent. All three are also Democrats.

Hirono agreed with the Washington-based league's positions on 18 of 20 votes but voted against the group on legislation to change farm subsidies and the grasslands protection program.

Inouye, who scored 67 percent rating in 2005 and 2006, voted for the energy bill, repeal of federal oil subsidies and most other legislation the league favored but voted against its positions on farm subsidy reform and creating a national commission to prioritize water projects.

Inouye said he was pleased to have received one of the higher ratings this year, noting one vote used was on improving auto fuel efficiency.

"By lowering fuel consumption … we slow the rate of global warming and we become less dependent on foreign oil," said Inouye, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Abercrombie, who scored 70 percent in ratings for 2005 and 2006, supported the league positions in voting for the energy bill with increased fuel economy standards, hard rock mining reform and the repeal of federal oil subsidies.

But Abercrombie also voted against the league when he supported offshore natural gas drilling, opposed cutting farm subsidies and supported the creation of national electric transmission corridors.

"The amendments to the farm bill would have hurt Hawai'i's sugar and cellulose ethanol and other biofuel industries, along with many other Hawai'i farm programs," Abercrombie said. "They were opposed by the Hawaii Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation, and their inclusion would have killed the farm bill itself."

Akaka, who scored an 81 percent rating in 2005 and 2006, voted against the league's position on only farm subsidy reform and creating a national commission to prioritize water projects.

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.