State Lawmakers’ Environmental Scores Inch Up for 2009
 Grades Reflect Voter Concern about Protecting the Environment 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.” # # # > top What the Numbers Mean | Our Methodology
CTLCV grades legislators on a 0 to100% scale based on their voting records on bills that affect the environment. In addition to analyzing final House and Senate votes, we looked at every vote cast in each committee along the way. To determine the scores, we gave one point for a pro–environment vote and zero points for an anti–environment vote. Each column in the Scorecard table represents the averages of all relevant votes on a specific bill. The final score shown in this document is the total of all the selected votes. A Note on Abstentions and Absences
Abstentions are not calculated in legislators’ final scores, but absences are. We assigned a half point for absences in recognition that sometimes legislators deliberately miss votes. Of course, sometimes there are valid reasons for absences. But in the end, an absence isn’t as constructive as taking a stand and casting a pro–environment vote. Thus, a half point score for absences is a compromise. We also encourage readers to check how many times your legislators may have missed important votes. > top | | CTLCV's 2009 Environmental Scorecard has arrived!
Now you can find out just how green your legislator is! 
CTLCV keeps a close watch on state legislation that will impact the state's natural resources. After each legislative session, we publish an Environmental Scorecard that grades legislators according to how they voted on environmental bills. During the session, we notify state legislators about these bills through "Scorecard Alerts" and ask them to cast a pro-environment vote. > top
What's Inside How to Use This Scorecard 2009 Environmental Champions Tribute to Gina McCarthy, Welcome Amey Marrella Session in Review Methodology Senate Scores House Scores Bills Scored Important Bills Watched Power Failure > top
Votes by Bill All Votes 379 - Land Value Tax 569 - Inland Wetlands 662 - Bottle Bill 735 - Complete Streets 747 - Alternative Sewage Systems 792 - Vehicle Idling 871 - DEP Enforcement 919 - PBDEs 1020 - Pesticides at Day Care Ctrs 1033 - LEED Incentives 5474 - Recycling 5875 - Marine License Fees 5934 - Wetlands 6397 - Green Fund 6467 - Smart Growth & POCDs 6496 - GreenClean 6572 - BPA Ban 6635 - Solar Power
Scorecard Archives > top |
