News from EPL/Environmental Advocates

For more information contact: Erica Ringewald, 518-210-9903

NY’s Annual Green “Voters’ Guide” Released

Assemblyman Sweeney Named “Legislator of the Year”

ALBANY, NY (10/18/2007; 1101)(readMedia)-- In New York State’s only environmental scorecard of state lawmakers, EPL/Environmental Advocates documented higher scores across party lines in the State Senate, where two of the green community’s priority Super Bills passed by wide margins. In the Assembly, four of the five Super Bills were passed. Two of the environmental community’s priority measures, the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act and the Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement Act became law this year. The Bigger Better Bottle Bill was not passed by either house, due in some part to a propaganda campaign masquerading as New Yorkers interested in recycling.

Thanks to the slew of environmentally beneficial measures passed by the Assembly under the leadership of the new Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), 47 Assembly members earned scores in excess of 100 for the very first time.

This year’s Guide recognizes the efforts of Assemblyman Sweeney by awarding him Legislator of the Year honors for the first time. And while Senate scores were generally lower than those in the Assembly, several senators, including Vincent Leibell (R-Brewster) in particular, were commended for their leadership on one or more Super Bills.

NYS Senators ranked 11 points higher than their average 2006 scores (from 67 to 78), while the average Assembly score increased from 92 to 95. In terms of House and Party averages, Minority Party senators averaged 86 (an increase over last year’s score of 81), while Majority Party senators increased their average by 15 points to 71. In the Assembly, the average score did not increase as much as the Senate’s due to the fact that the Assembly has moved environmental bills in past years, leaving less of a distinction between this year and last. Assembly members of the Majority Party increased their average score one point to 99, while the Minority Party increased its score by four points to 84.

“EPL/Environmental Advocates’ annual Voters’ Guide gives New Yorkers the opportunity to see how their representatives in the State Capital vote when it comes to legislation that could either help clean up our natural heritage or pollute our air, water and land,” said Robert Moore, Executive Director, EPL/Environmental Advocates. “The Voters’ Guide shows that 2007 was a good year when it comes to environmental funding and land preservation. It also documents disappointing progress on arguably the most important environmental issue of our time—climate change. While two measures designed to help cut our contribution to global warming were among this year’s Super Bills, only the Assembly took action on the legislation. And a measure to establish a Climate Action Plan that passed both houses this year was vetoed by Governor Eliot Spitzer.”

The environmental community’s Super Bills serve as legislative priorities for each session and are chosen by the Green Panel, which includes the state’s leading environmental groups. This year’s Super Bills include the Wetland Protection Act, which would protect wetlands of an acre or more; the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, which would expand the definition of returnable containers to include drinks such as iced tea and bottled water and earmark unclaimed deposits for environmental protection; and the Climate Change Solutions Act & Fund, which would increase state support for energy efficiency and clean energy programs by charging power companies for releasing heat-trapping gases.

Thanks to strong leadership in both houses, two Super Bills were passed during this year’s session. The Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act will give communities the power to decide for themselves when and how to protect natural heritage. Although the measure only covers Westchester and Putnam counties, it was designed so that other counties can easily be added to it in future. The Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement Act establishes by law that New York will increase its primary environmental funding source to nearly $300 million by 2009.

EPL/Environmental Advocates calculates lawmakers’ scores using ratings developing by its sister organization, Environmental Advocates of New York. Legislators earn between 1 and 3 points respectively for votes in support of bills rated by Environmental Advocates of New York as 1, 2 and 3 “tree” bills. Tree-rated bills are those deemed beneficial to the environment. Likewise, legislators earn between 1 and 3 points for voting against bills that were give a rating of 1, 2, and 3 “smokestacks.” Smokestack-rated bills are those deemed detrimental to the environment.

The Voters’ Guide is the first and only record of New York State lawmakers’ votes on legislation that will impact the environment. The Guide has been produced and distributed statewide for more almost 40 years. To view the complete report, visit www.eplvotersguide.org.

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EPL/Environmental Advocates was founded in 1969 as one of the first organizations in the nation to advocate for the future of a state’s environment and the health of its citizens. Through lobbying, advocacy, coalition building, citizen education and policy development, EPL/Environmental Advocates has been New York’s environmental conscience—ensuring that environmental laws are enforced; that new measures are enacted when necessary; and that the public is informed of, and participates in, important environmental policy debates.

Attachments

2007 Environmental Voters' Guide
vgFINALsmall.pdf