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For Immediate Release
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Contact:
Lori Brown, Executive Director
Office: 860.236.5442
Cell: 860.214.0345
lori.brown@ctlcv.org
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State Lawmakers' Environmental Scores Inch Up for 2009
Grades Reflect Voter Concern about Protecting the Environment
Hartford, CT (November 12, 2009) - Connecticut lawmakers' environmental scores inched up this year, reflecting the high priority that voters across the state place on protecting the environment.
That finding comes from the just-released Connecticut League of Conservation Voters' 2009 Environmental Scorecard, which grades lawmakers on their votes on 19 different  bills related to the environment. Some of the bills scored this year include bills on rivers and wetlands, solar power, open space, bottle recycling, and toxic chemicals, among others.
"We publish an Annual Environmental Scorecard to let Connecticut voters who care about the environment know if their legislators are voting the right way," said Lori Brown, CTLCV's Executive Director.
And many are. In 2009, 108 legislators earned an A on their environmental voting records. Last year only 78 legislators did. Nevertheless, many legislators continue to defy their constituents' concerns with the environment. Thirty-three legislators got a C, D or F on their 2009 environmental voting records. But there were fewer poor performers this year compared to last year (38 in 2009 versus 60 in 2008), indicating some degree of progress.
High Scores No Accident
Connecticut's relatively high environmental scores are no accident. CTLCV works with  other environmental advocate groups all year long to educate and advise legislators about the most pressing environmental issues and legislative initiatives.
As a result, no legislator is left uneducated, and CTLCV holds each of them accountable for their votes after every legislative session. Connecticut's freshman legislators scored particularly well this year, suggesting a connection with CTLCV's rigorous candidate endorsement process.
League Highlights Environmental Champions
The 2009 Environmental Scorecard highlights Connecticut's environmental champions in the legislature. The League bestowed that honor on 12 lawmakers this year for their persistent efforts to protect the environment.
For that, the League commends Senators
- Don Williams (D-Brooklyn),
- John McKinney (R-Southport),
- Toni Boucher (R-Wilton), and
- Ed Meyer (D-Guilford),
along with Representatives
- Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield),
- Patricia Widlitz (D-Guilford),
- Beth Bye (D-West Hartford),
- Tom Kehoe (D- S. Glastonbury),
- Mary Mushinsky (D-Wallingford),
- Vickie Nardello (D-Prospect),
- Linda Schofield (D-Simsbury), and
- Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden).
Voters Take Note of Low Performers
Voters in Thomaston, Litchfield, Waterbury, North Branford, and Groton should take note: elected representatives from those towns turned in this year's lowest environmental scores.
Connecticut's lowest performers are:
- John Piscopo (R-Thomaston, 24%),
- Craig Miner (R-Litchfield, 46%),
- Anthony D'Amelio (R-Waterbury, 58%),
- Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford, 60%), and
- Edward Moukawsher (D-Groton, 60%).
"The legislature may do its work in Hartford, but we all feel the impact of what it does - or doesn't do - in our own backyards," reminds Brown. "That park you like to visit, the natural scenery you love in your town, whether that dairy farm down the road is going to be sold to developers - these are the kinds of things our legislators' votes affect in very real ways. The Scorecard holds them accountable."
About the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
Formed ten years ago, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters is a bipartisan environmental advocacy group that focuses on getting smart, sustainable environmental policies enacted in Connecticut.
CTLCV works with Connecticut's environmental advocates to promote important bills that affect Connecticut's air, water, wildlife, open space, transportation, energy choices and health. CTLCV educates state legislators about these bills through Scorecard Alerts and urges them to cast a pro-environment vote.
In election years, CTLCV researches positions taken by political candidates and endorses those who demonstrate leadership and pledge to make the environment a high legislative priority. CTLCV's endorsements have become widely sought by candidates of all parties. These endorsements give environment-minded voters the information they need to make informed choices at election time. |
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