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Press  Room

Advocates Call on Lamont, CT Lawmakers to Keep Their Commitments on TCI

11/29/2021

 
      Advocates Call on Lamont, CT Lawmakers to Keep Their Commitments on TCI 
               CT Groups Urge Meaningful Action on Climate Change in 2022


Hartford, CT - On Tuesday Governor Lamont said he would no longer pursue passage of the Transportation Climate Initiative, then walked that statement back slightly on Wednesday saying he would sign a TCI bill if it reached his desk. 

The decision to pause Connecticut’s implementation of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) has had a domino effect on the region, underscoring the important role our state plays in addressing the climate crisis. Lawmakers have missed a critical opportunity to cap transportation pollution in CT and act on our climate emergency. Connecticut was poised to be a regional leader in addressing transportation emissions, and 24 hours after Governor Lamont abandoned TCI, Massachusetts and Rhode Island backed away from the program in response.
 

The Transportation & Climate Initiative is a multi-state agreement that would cap transportation pollution, charge wholesale polluters for emissions, and direct the funds to improve transportation and air quality for Connecticut residents. TCI is our state’s best opportunity to address our climate mitigation and environmental justice challenges with a regional approach. 

In September, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reported that despite Connecticut's aggressive carbon emissions reductions goals laid out in the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act, transportation emissions continue to rise in our state: Connecticut is not on track to meet its 2030 and 2050 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction requirements.

Beginning with Governor Rell in 2010 and continuing throughout the past decade, supporters of TCI have worked with our fellow states to craft a robust and equitable program to address the largest source of climate pollution in our region. Citizen activists across Connecticut have spent years working to advance this critical policy as the demand for real, tangible action on climate change has grown to an all-time high. 

Governor Lamont’s decision to withdraw support for the Transportation and Climate Initiative turns a blind eye to the urgency of the climate crisis we face. Inaction is a disservice to all the communities and residents that would have benefited from the pollution reductions and clean transportation investments under the program. In 2018, the Governor’s Council on Climate Change noted that transportation emissions need to fall by about one-third in order to meet our 2030 target. Only two months ago, Connecticut’s greenhouse gas inventory confirmed that we are not on track to meet the emission reductions required by our Global Warming Solutions Act. 

Advocates pledge to continue to fight for TCI on behalf of Connecticut’s communities who will bear the brunt of the consequences from inaction. While there is no single “silver bullet” that will solve our transportation issues, TCI provides the essential structure around which a comprehensive approach can be built - one that guarantees the emissions reductions necessary to meet our targets and improve the quality of life of Connecticut’s residents. 

Advocates offered the following statements:

“Acadia Center and our partners in the Connecticut’s Transportation Futurecoalition have worked tirelessly over the last few years to build support for action on transportation pollution through TCI. Businesses, mayors, community leaders, and public health professionals have come out in support of the program and its economic, public health, and climate benefits,” said Amy McLean, Acadia Center’s Connecticut Director and Senior Policy Advocate.

“Environmental justice leaders have worked closely with state agencies and the legislature to center equity and transportation justice in Connecticut’s implementation of the TCI. While Governor Lamont appears content to press pause on that important work, we are committed to moving it forward.”

 
“We cannot afford to wait for a convenient time to protect the planet,” said Louis Rosado Burch, Connecticut Program Director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “We are experiencing increased coastal flooding inundating our shoreline communities, and some of the nation’s worst air quality in our urban centers. Climate Change is impacting our lives every day, and it’s getting worse the longer we delay action. Pulling their support for TCI was a short-sighted move by the Lamont administration, which kicks the can even further down the road on addressing carbon pollution. Connecticut residents want bold leadership from their elected leaders. TCI is a necessity, not a luxury to be put on the shelf for another day.
 
“Connecticut is at a crossroads—will we take climate change seriously, or not?”, said Charles J. Rothenberger, Climate and Energy Attorney at Save the Sound.  “It’s now been more than two months since the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Connecticut is not on track to meet its required emissions reductions. The Transportation and Climate Initiative would cut emissions by 26 percent over the next ten years and invest in clean transportation and improved air quality in the communities that need it most. That’s exactly the kind of action we need, and it’s why we’ll keep fighting for this policy. Our leaders need to step up to the plate and show the same urgency in their policies that they’ve shown in their rhetoric. The cost of inaction is too steep.”
 
“We are up against the richest and most powerful industries in the world in the fight against climate change,” said Megan Macomber, Policy Advocate at the CT League of Conservation Voters. “The pushback on TCI shows us how loud these fossil fuel industries can be, but they do not represent the will of the majority.” According to a November 12, 2021 poll by Langer Research Associates, 78% of 18- to 29-year-olds say climate change is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. 
 
“Major climate programs like TCI must not fall victim to in-party fighting or be used to leverage political agendas. With 2022 elections on the horizon, elected officials should double down on their efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions, not shy away from the fight,” said Macomber. 
 
"Governor Lamont's decision to abandon his commitment to capping and reducing carbon pollution is a huge step backwards for our state's efforts to fight climate change," said Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut State Director. "The Governor's lack of commitment to action on climate is a profound disappointment to Connecticut residents who are looking to our elected officials to rise to the challenge of doing what is necessary to stop climate change before it is too late."

The following TCI coalition members have signed on to this statement:

Lori Brown
CT League of Conservation Voters

Daphne Dixon
Live Green Network 
 
Nathan Frohling 
The Nature Conservancy
 
Robert Goodrich
Radical Advocates for Cross-Cultural Education
 
Anne Hulick
Clean Water Action
 
Thomas Lefebvre
Transport Hartford/ Center for Latino Progress
 
Gannon Long
Operation Fuel
 
Amy McLean
Acadia Center
 
Mark A. Mitchell MD
Mitchell Environmental Health Associates
 
Chris Phelps
Environment Connecticut
 
Louis Rosado Burch 
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
 
Charles Rothenberger
Save the Sound
 
Mustafa Salahuddin
ATU Local 1336

CTLCV Announces Delegation Scores from LCV’s 2020 National Environmental Scorecard

2/19/2021

 
Hartford, CT – The CT League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) today released the Connecticut delegation’s scores on the League of Conservation Voters’ 2020 National Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard is the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of every member of Congress and is available for download in both English and Spanish at scorecard.lcv.org.

 “President Biden has wasted no time putting climate at the top of his agenda. We are proud to have representatives that will fight for our future alongside this new administration,” said CTLCV Executive Director, Lori Brown.  

Our entire House and Senate delegation—Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, and Representatives DeLauro, Himes, Courtney, Larson and Hayes have all stood up for our health and our environment. They worked every day to protect our communities from toxic PFAS pollution, to secure full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and to fight repeated efforts to weaken our nation’s core environmental laws.  

“But the federal government cannot do this alone. Now with partners in the White House and Congress, there has never been a more important time to build support for clean energy to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and to put an end to new fossil fuel infrastructure. Our state leaders can help put us on the path to a clean energy future,” said Brown.
​

The 2020 Scorecard measures votes cast during the second session of the 116th Congress. In Connecticut, all five House members earned 100% and our Senators scored high marks among their peers. The full delegation’s scores for 2020 are:

Senator Blumenthal - 92 percent
Senator Murphy - 85 percent
Representative Larson - 100 percent
Representative Courtney- 100 percent
Representative DeLauro - 100 percent
Representative Hayes - 100 percent
Representative Himes - 100 percent 

“During an incredibly difficult and unprecedented year and with the most anti-environmental president ever, pro-environment members of the 116th Congress paved the way for transformational action on climate and environmental justice,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld.

“Now the pro-environment trifecta -- led by President Biden and Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader Schumer -- is poised to enact transformational progress that results in healthy, equitable, safe communities powered by clean energy.”

The 2020 Scorecard includes 21 House votes that advanced pro-environmental and pro-democracy bills, provisions, and government funding. In the Senate, for the fourth year in a row, the majority of the 13 scored votes were extreme and partisan nominations both to the federal bench and the Trump administration.  For the first time, the 2020 National Environmental Scorecard includes votes on removing public monuments to racism and policing and criminal justice reform. The same damaging system—racism—is at the root of climate injustice, environmental injustice, and police brutality. The 2020 Scorecard therefore includes votes that reflect LCV’s belief that these struggles are intertwined and must be addressed together.

LCV has published a National Environmental Scorecard every Congress since 1970. The Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from more than 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, climate change, environmental justice, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, democracy, and spending for environmental programs. The votes included in the Scorecard presented members of Congress with a real choice and help distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection. More information on individual votes and the Scorecard archive can be found at scorecard.lcv.org.
​

Earlier this month, LCV released a new report examining the environmental records of members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), collectively referred to as the Tri-Caucus. Using data from LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard, the report details how members of the Tri-Caucus were champions of strong environmental policies that address environmental injustice, helped chair a record number of hearings about climate change, and led on many of the critical pro-environmental bills during the 116th Congress.  

Tremendous Victories for CTLCV-endorsed Candidates Show Voters Value Climate Action

11/6/2020

 
Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) is thrilled with the number of victories for CTLCV-endorsed candidates throughout the state this election season. Though federal results are pending, victories at the local level clearly show that Connecticut residents care about the climate crisis and local environmental issues. 52 of CTLCV’s 65 endorsed candidates won their races.
​

Two of CTLCV’s endorsed challengers have ousted anti-environmental incumbents: Eleni DeGraw beat incumbent Leslee Hill in House District 17, and Jorge Cabrera was victorious in his rematch with incumbent Senator George Logan in Senate District 17.

Freshmen lawmakers elected in 2018, many of whom CTLCV supported, were in highly competitive races this year. All of them proved to be exceptional leaders on our issues at the Capitol. These top champions have prevailed and will return with even greater conviction in 2021:
●      Christine Cohen - Senate District 12
●      Mary Abrams - Senate District 13
●      Julie Kushner - Senate District 24
●      Alexandra Kasser - Senate District 36
●      Will Haskell - Senate District 26
●      Christine Palm - House District 17
●      Maria Horn - House District 64
●      Ann Hughes - House District 135

Furthermore, all of CTLCV’s long-time champions will be returning to lead the way on issues ranging from pesticides and PFAS, to clean energy and climate change. Senators Gary Winfield and Tony Hwang, and Representatives Geraldo Reyes, Jonathan Steinberg, and Mike Demicco are all committed to advancing progressive and equitable solutions to our state's most pressing environmental concerns.
 
CTLCV’s candidates all had strong environmental platforms and reflect the growing concern among Connecticut residents about the climate crisis and environmental threats, and the urgent need to address these challenges. These victories are a reminder of the importance of local elections as vectors for systemic change. These environmental leaders will bring their enthusiasm and energy to the Connecticut General Assembly to press for creative solutions to problems that plague our state and nation.
 
“Just a few years ago, climate change was a marginal topic in political campaigns. This year, it was a significant topic in many local debates,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “It is inspiring to see how many candidates were well-versed in climate change science and a broad array of complex environmental concerns. These victories show that Connecticut residents understand how important these issues are to our lives, our economy, and our future.”
 
CTLCV worked hard in 2018 to get pro-environment candidates elected and worked closely with them to advance clean energy and climate mitigation priorities - many of which had been blocked by anti-environment legislators in prior years. In their first term, ALL of these freshmen champions were fearless in pushing environmental protections forward, and are determined to address climate change in significant ways in 2021.
 
Each of the 52 endorsed winners this year support transitioning Connecticut to a 100% cleaner electric grid, modernizing the state’s recycling programs, and banning toxic PFAS from polluting our water. Their responses to CTLCV’s environmental survey are posted on CTLCV’s elections page.
 
“When pro-environment legislators are elected, they represent the values of their constituents,” said Brown, “As the legislative session begins in 2021, voters can have confidence that climate change and the environment will be mainstream issues.”
 
In addition to researching, interviewing and endorsing candidates, CTLCV’s Independent Expenditure PAC supported these candidates through direct mailers sent to more than 50,000 households in key races. CTLCV also invested in paid digital ads which were seen more than three million times.
 
These efforts contributed to the numerous victories for the environment with more than 80% of CTLCV-endorsed candidates winning their races. CTLCV endorsed more candidates in the 2020 election - almost double - than in any previous year. The rise of endorsements is indicative of the number of candidates who stepped up to run on pro-environment platforms.

CTLCV endorsed many more challengers this election cycle, including Baird Welch-Collins (HD 38), Bryan Anderson (HD 119), Kate Donnely (HD 47), Cate Steel (HD 37) and Paul Honig (HD 76), who all sought to unseat anti-environment entrenched incumbents with abysmal voting records. CTLCV applauds these candidates who helped highlight environmental positions during the campaign and will continue to spotlight climate change deniers at the state legislature.
 
CTLCV’s educational arm (CTLCV Education Fund) conducted a separate non-partisan effort for voter awareness and education that targeted historically underrepresented black and Hispanic communities in Middletown, Waterbury, and Hartford. 
 
CTLCV Education Fund prioritized voter education through direct mailings, digital ads, and volunteer phonebanks in partnership with NAACP’s Youth and College Division. The ads and mailings reached tens of thousands of residents, and the phonebanks resulted in conversations with thousands of first-time voters. More than 675,000 Connecticut residents voted by Absentee Ballot in the 2020 Election, and CTLCV will work with its partners to make sure the expansion becomes permanent.
 
“2020 has been a landmark year in understanding how environmental justice and social justice are one in the same,” said Brown. “Voting is an essential component to our democracy; every voter must be able to vote safely. Voter intimidation and misinformation have no place in a healthy democracy, and CTLCV remains committed to supporting all voters to exercise their right to vote.”
 
A complete list of CTLCV-endorsed victories is available on our Victories page. A complete list of CTLCV-endorsed candidates, direct mailers, and digital ad campaigns can be viewed on CTLCV's website,  and CTLCV’s voter education materials can be viewed on CTLCV Education Fund’s website.

CTLCV Endorsements Show Strong Support for Environment

10/22/2020

 

Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed 65 candidates for the Connecticut General Assembly House and Senate 2020 election. CTLCV has never endorsed this many candidates in any previous election and has identified champions in all 8 counties across the state.
 
The growth of CTLCV endorsements indicates that the environment is no longer a marginal concern for Connecticut residents and lawmakers. The CTLCV-endorsed candidates are hugely committed to tackling climate change, investing in clean energy, improving recycling programs, and protecting open spaces.
 
Candidates seeking CTLCV’s endorsements were asked about top environmental priorities for 2021 if elected or re-elected.  Their responses to specific questions are posted on CTLCV’s website, which include expanding the Bottle Bill, achieving 100% Zero Emission Electric Grid by 2040, regulating pesticides, overhauling our waste and recycling programs, investing in clean energy, tackling climate change in significant and equitable ways, strengthening Environmental Justice laws, protecting forests and urban parks, and banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals that pollute our water and endanger our health.
 
“The environment has long been seen as a sideline issue, but the 65 CTLCV endorsements in 2020 show that legislators and their constituents understand the link between environmental issues and the economy, public health, and Connecticut’s potential to be a leader in the growing national rise to mitigate climate change,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “These endorsements are a clear signal to voters that they have a choice to elect people that share their environmental values, and will act on them”
 
These CTLCV-endorsed candidates are comprised of both incumbents and non-incumbents who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing environmental legislation in the State. CTLCV does not endorse in every race, but CTLCV endorsements show voters in many districts which candidates are most committed to championing environmental priorities. These candidates have proven that they care about the health of residents and the environment, are committed to creating significant and positive change for environmental justice and will proactively vote to make Connecticut a leader in a clean energy future.
 
“We have been thrilled to interview so many candidates that recognize the importance of the environment to Connecticut’s future health and economic sustainability. We found them to be highly educated on the substance and complexity of issues, and all of them will prioritize the environment if elected,” said David Bingham, CTLCV Co-chair.   “These candidates are enthusiastic to get started and we’ll be at the Capitol to support them.”
 
All candidates seeking CTLCV’s endorsement must first complete a Survey on the Environment, which highlights issues that will likely be addressed in the 2021 Legislative Session. CTLCV researches candidates and selectively interviews before the full board votes to issue an endorsement.
 
“These priorities directly affect every resident of Connecticut,” said Brown. “In so many ways, 2020 has shown us how linked we are to each other and to the natural world. Our health matters. Open space and clean air matter. Climate change is an increasing threat, and these candidates have a vision for Connecticut that prioritize these concerns.”
 
CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization in its 20th year of working with lawmakers to help inform their positions and track their votes.  Unlike most environmental organizations, CTLCV can hold lawmakers accountable with an annual Environmental Scorecard and can endorse candidates during an election.
 
A complete list of candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website. For additional information regarding specific candidates, contact Executive Director Lori Brown or Communications Director Lindsy Floyd.
CTLCV.org
 
 
This information is paid for by the CTLCV Political Action Committee. This message was made independent of any candidate or political party. Contributions to the CTLCV PAC of $5,000 or more were made by CTLCV, Inc. and League of Conservation Voters. Additional information about the CTLCV PAC may be found on the State Elections Enforcement Commission's website (ct.gov/seec).

CTLCV Endorses Bryan Anderson

10/8/2020

 
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Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed Bryan Anderson (D) to represent the 119th House District. A Milford resident and former public school educator, Bryan Anderson is a seasoned public servant as an Alderman for eight years before running for State Representative.​

In local politics, Bryan Anderson created an official position within the City Parks Department that developed public programs and events, providing a new level of environmental awareness and resources. In Milford, he helped create an Open Space and Natural Resources Management position to address local concerns and environmental protection.  He organized a ban on single-use plastic bags at the local level before this was taken up at the state legislature.  He helped to ban commercial trucks weighing more than 15,000 pounds from overnight parking on residential streets, which addressed citizen’s concerns over leaking fuels and harmful chemicals into watershed areas.

“Bryan Anderson grew up in a home built on a closed landfill, where a nearby factory compromised the air he breathed as a child,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “Bryan understands the risks that residents face as pollutants threaten their drinking water, their air, and their health. He is determined to advance environmental legislation to protect his community and ensure that everyone has a safe, healthy place to live.”

Bryan Anderson successfully fought for our State’s original landmark recycling law decades ago, known as the Bottle Bill. He is fully committed to updating the Bottle Bill and will fight for policies to increase recycling, reduce trash, and relieve the waste management crisis that is impacting our municipalities.  His experience working at the legislature and his extensive network of environmental leaders will be a significant advantage in furthering legislation in all areas.   

In sharp contrast to Bryan Anderson’s pro-environment, pro-health advocacy, the incumbent he seeks to replace has a disappointing track record on environmental legislation.  Representative Kathleen Kennedy voted against strengthening Connecticut’s bottle bill, against providing climate change education in schools, and against restricting the toxic cancer-causing chemicals known as PFAS that are polluting our drinking water. 
“The residents of Milford and Orange deserve a stronger leader on these issues to represent them in Hartford, and Bryan Anderson is that person,” said Brown.

CTLCV endorsements are based on candidates’ track records on key environmental issues, their responses to a Survey on the Environment, and an extensive interview via Zoom. CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut's environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. We work in concert with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills impacting our air, water, wildlife, open space, climate, and our health, and hold legislators accountable for their votes in our annual Environmental Scorecard. 

A complete list of all of the candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website.

CTLCV Endorses Christine Palm

10/8/2020

 

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Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed Christine Palm (D) to represent the 36th House District. Prior to her first term representing the District, she worked for the General Assembly’s Commission on Women, Children, and Seniors, a group that advocates for policies that enhance the safety and economic security of these three under-represented populations. She lives in Chester.​

Christine Palm serves on the Legislature’s Environment Committee and received a 100% rating on CTLCV’s Environmental Scorecard. In her freshman term, 2019, Christine Palm introduced legislation to require climate change education in public schools and to ban commercial seismic surveying and drilling off the Connecticut coastline. Christine Palm also co-sponsored bills that would ban harmful and toxic chemicals, including toxins like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS, which are known carcinogens and have been linked to reproductive and immunological effects, and the pesticide Chlorpyrifos.

“We are thrilled that in her first year at the legislature, Christine Palm earned the designation of CTLCV Environmental Champion,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “Her priorities highlight the needs of her District and would broadly benefit the entire State. We need leaders like Christine Palm who listen to science and the residents she represents.”

Christine Palm has advanced climate change as a priority in the legislature and has invested time listening to residents of Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Haddam during her freshman term, and has quickly risen as an unstoppable leader for the environment. She is committed to transitioning to a clean energy economy that will lead to good-paying sustainable jobs for Connecticut’s workforce. She believes in building broad and diverse coalitions to transition to a 100% clean energy economy.

An important priority on her 2021 agenda will be updating Connecticut’s recycling law, known as the Bottle Bill, which will modernize existing deposit programs for beverage containers and further reduce waste and increase recycling efforts in Connecticut.

CTLCV endorsements are based on candidates’ track records on key environmental issues, their responses to a Survey on the Environment, and an extensive interview via Zoom. CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut's environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. We work in concert with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills impacting our air, water, wildlife, open space, climate, and our health, and hold legislators accountable for their votes in our annual Environmental Scorecard. 
A complete list of all of the candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website.


CTLCV Endorses Eleni Kavros DeGraw

10/8/2020

 

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Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed Eleni Kavros DeGraw to represent the 17th House District that includes Avon and Canton. She has a long history of civic engagement through local non-profits aimed at improving the lives of residents.​

Eleni DeGraw has shown fierce commitment to providing local resources to residents who want to learn more about electric cars, composting, gardening, and toxic chemicals that threaten waterways. She has been very vocal in response to the June 2019 Farmington River PFAS spill, when thousands of gallons of the toxic chemical threatened Canton residents’ safety. Eleni DeGraw will prioritize banning PFAS and other toxins from entering waterways. 

“Eleni DeGraw has been incredibly involved at the local level, but also sees the big picture for our State, which is exactly what we want in a State Representative,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “We want a candidate who will listen to the residents that they represent and work to protect their families from toxins and pollutants.”

Eleni DeGraw’s opponent, Representative Leslee Hill, who currently holds the seat as a freshman, received an embarrassingly low score of 75% on CTLCV’s Scorecard. Hill voted against climate change education in public schools, voted against modernizing Connecticut’s recycling-based Bottle Bill, and voted to weaken Connecticut’s enforcement of environmental laws. 

“The residents of Avon and Canton deserve a stronger leader on these issues to represent them in Hartford, and Eleni DeGraw is that person,” said Brown.

CTLCV endorsements are based on candidates’ track records on key environmental issues, their responses to a Survey on the Environment, and an extensive interview via Zoom. CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut's environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. We work in concert with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills impacting our air, water, wildlife, open space, climate, and our health, and hold legislators accountable for their votes in our annual Environmental Scorecard. 
A complete list of all of the candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website.

CTLCV Endorses Julie Kushner

10/8/2020

 

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 Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed Julie Kushner to represent the 24th Senate District. A retired trade unionist, she lives in Danbury and currently represents the 24th District. ​

Julie Kushner received a 96% on CTLCV’s Environmental Scorecard and serves as Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee. She is a longtime supporter of sustainability initiatives and is a powerful voice for clean energy and creating thousands of new Green jobs.

“Julie Kushner has been an advocate for workers for her entire career,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “She understands the challenges that they face, and she is committed to creating thousands of new Green jobs to help both workers and Connecticut’s clean energy future.”
As Senate Chair of the Labor Committee and Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, Julie Kushner is uniquely positioned to see how greater investment in clean energy will lead to good-paying sustainable jobs for Connecticut’s workforce. She is a trustworthy leader for environmental justice and believes in building coalitions of people with shared values to strengthen a blue-green alliance across Connecticut.
In other key areas, Julie Kushner is fighting for laws that protect our environment. She has generated new funding to clean up invasive species in Candlewood Lake, has secured funding to monitor air quality impacts of Cricket Valley Power Plant, and she fought successfully for the ban on single use plastic bags.

“Residents in Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, and Sherman have seen what Julie Kushner stands for and what a strong leader she has been in her freshman term to benefit the 24th District,” said Brown.  “We need her back at the Capitol where she can keep working on issues that matter to everyone across the State.”

CTLCV endorsements are based on candidates’ track records on key environmental issues, their responses to a Survey on the Environment, and an extensive interview via Zoom. CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut's environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. We work in concert with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills impacting our air, water, wildlife, open space, climate, and our health, and hold legislators accountable for their votes in our annual Environmental Scorecard. 
A complete list of all of the candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website.

CTLCV Endorses Christine Cohen

10/8/2020

 

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 Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed Christine Cohen (D) to represent the 12th Senate District. She owns a local business, Cohen’s Bagel Company in Madison, and lives in Guilford. She currently represents the District.

In her 2019 freshman term, Christine Cohen was appointed Chair of the Environment Committee. She immediately adopted ambitious action to pass a Statewide ban on single-use plastic bags. Despite fierce opposition against the plastic bag ban, Christine Cohen was instrumental in the legislation passing and going into effect last year. She has also fought to advance environmental justice legislation and update the State’s Transfer Act to clean up polluted sites. Christine Cohen has demonstrated a strong pro-environment voting record, earning 96% on CTLCV’s Environmental Scorecard.

“When we endorsed Christine Cohen in 2018, we knew she’d be an environmental leader,” said Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director. “What we didn’t know is how fully she’d embrace her role as Chair of the Environment Committee, and how critical her leadership would be in passing the plastic bag ban. The legislation has resulted in an 80% reduction of single-use plastic bags, which use fossil fuel to be created and often end up in waterways and as litter. She has earned CTLCV’s endorsement because she has quickly become one of the strongest advocates for environmental legislation in Connecticut.”

An important priority on her 2021 agenda will be updating Connecticut’s recycling law, known as the Bottle Bill, which will modernize existing deposit programs for beverage containers and further reduce waste and increase recycling efforts in Connecticut. Christine Cohen has been an ally to CTLCV, and her continued work will be critical for environmental protection Statewide, particularly in the 12th District towns of Branford, North Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, and Madison.
CTLCV endorsements are based on candidates’ track records on key environmental issues, their responses to a Survey on the Environment, and an extensive interview via Zoom. CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut's environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. We work in concert with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills impacting our air, water, wildlife, open space, climate, and our health, and hold legislators accountable for their votes in our annual Environmental Scorecard. 

A complete list of all of the candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website.


CTLCV Endorses Maria Horn

10/8/2020

 

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Hartford, CT – The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has endorsed Maria Horn (D) to represent the 64th House District. A resident of Salisbury, Maria Horn is an accomplished lawyer who has represented the District since 2018. She earned a 97% score on CTLCV’s Environmental Scorecard and is a member of the Legislature’s Environment Committee.​

In her freshman term, 2019, Maria Horn listened to residents’ concerns about the loss of open spaces and farmland to development. In response, she worked on legislation (SB 1063) to create a task force to improve farmland availability for first-time farmers. Maria has fought hard to protect Community Investment Act Funds, which significantly supports dairy farms and open space. Earlier this year, Maria initiated legislation (HB 5345) to decrease the amount of time it takes to preserve our State’s most valuable farmland from development. 

Residents of Connecticut’s northwest corner have seen increasing threats to rivers and lakes throughout the District, from drought to polluted runoff.  Maria Horn is invested in protecting water and residents from harmful toxins, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS. PFAS are known carcinogens and have been linked to reproductive and immunological effects. Maria Horn is determined to better regulate these chemicals in Connecticut to provide a safe, healthy environment that people deserve.

When residents expressed concern over potential air quality issues with the construction of New York’s Cricket Valley power plant, Maria Horn pushed legislation to provide air quality monitoring in towns throughout her District. Through her effort, funding was possible for municipalities to gather baseline air quality data prior to the power plant opening. She has demonstrated a commitment to protect the communities in her district against out-of-state pollutants.

Maria Horn has worked tirelessly on revising the Bottle Bill, which will upgrade the existing deposit program for beverage containers and further reduce waste and increase recycling efforts in Connecticut. Starting in the 2019 Legislative Session, Maria has supported efforts to advance the Bottle Bill, and proponents are counting on her to continue this important work in the 2021 Legislative Session.

“Maria Horn has listened to the people she represents and has shown a solid commitment to environmental concerns,” said CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown. “Her work to advance environmental legislation at the Capitol is giving residents in her District better protections for its natural resources and against pollutants. Her re-election will continue to benefit her District.”

CTLCV endorsements are based on candidates’ track records on key environmental issues, their responses to a Survey on the Environment, and an extensive interview via Zoom. CTLCV is a bipartisan, statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Connecticut's environment by making it a priority for our elected leaders. We work in concert with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills impacting our air, water, wildlife, open space, climate, and our health, and hold legislators accountable for their votes in our annual Environmental Scorecard. 

A complete list of all of the candidates endorsed by CTLCV for the 2020 election can be found on our website.

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