Local legislators graded on environmental votes

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HARTFORD — The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters released its annual Environmental Scorecard last week.

The scorecard is a report card, issued and graded by the league, which ranks individual state legislators on their votes on environmental issues. The annual environmental scorecard grades state senators and representatives on a 0 percent to 100 percent scale. This year the scorecard grades legislators’ votes on fifteen environmental bills that came up during the 2012 legislative session, according to a release issued by the league.

According to the league, the average score for all legislators for 2012 was 91 percent.

Three local legislatures earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the league’s scorecard — state senators Joe Crisco (D-17) and Joan Hartley (D-15) along with state representatives David Labriola (R-131) and Vickie Nardello (D-89).

“Throughout my career, both in the private sector and as an elected official, I have been mindful that our one-of-a-kind environment must not be taken for granted, and that clean air, pure water, and open space are much easier to protect than to try and restore,” Crisco said in a news release. “I’m grateful to the League of Conservation Voters for its recognition of my steadfast support for these quality-of-life issues.”

The league acknowledged in its report the current economic climate and the challenge to fund more meaningful reforms, Crisco said. With this as a backdrop, the league praised the legislature for its continued funding and support for two vitally important programs, the state’s Clean Water Fund and its Community Investment Act.
“As we continue to navigate through this difficult economy we will repeatedly have to prioritize and then refine those priorities, often at the expense of important state programs,” Crisco said. “Environmental programs are shortchanged at the ultimate expense of current and future state residents, compounding the impact, so we must continue to find sufficient resources and safeguard our natural heritage.”

Labriola spoke on the importance of evaluating legislation and thanked the league for its recognition.

“Our state is lucky to have clean natural resources, abundant open space and vibrant wild life, which are essential to a healthy future for the people of Connecticut,” said Labriola, a House Minority Whip, in a news release. “It is important to evaluate all potential consequences of proposed legislation, including those to the environment. I would like to thank the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters for recognizing my efforts to incorporate environmental impact into my legislative decision making process.”

According to the league, state Rep. Len Greene Jr. (R-105) scored a 42 percent and state Rep. Rosa Rebimbas (R-70) scored a 71 percent.

For more information on the Environmental Scorecard, visit www.ctlcv.org.