CLCV Releases 2005 California Environmental Scorecard

Lack of Leadership and an Environmental Majority in the Assembly Deal a Setback to 2005’s Strongest Environmental Legislation

Sacramento - A new report card released by the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) revealed few surprises in individual grades for lawmakers, but did chronicle a disappointing year in which most of the critical environmental bills failed to make it out of the legislature. Priority environmental legislation died in the Assembly, where just enough anti-environmental Democrats joined Republicans to defeat bills. Term limits have made matters worse by shifting the majority of the experience and institutional knowledge in the Capitol to the entrenched polluter lobby.

“We have lost our environmental majority in the Assembly, and are barely holding on to one in the Senate. The legislature’s inability to pass bills addressing issues important to the health of our families and communities is reflected in that loss of leadership,” lamented Susan Smartt, Executive Director of CLCV.

Governor Schwarzenegger received a 58% in the 2005 Environmental Scorecard—identical to his score in 2004. Said Smartt, “We were disappointed but not entirely surprised that the Governor was absent from the tough environmental battles in 2005. The real surprise was the lack of environmental champions in the legislature.”

The legislature will make crucial decisions regarding global warming, coastal protection, transportation and community health in the next few years. “Electing pro-environmental candidates in 2006 will likely determine the state’s environmental health for years to come,” remarked Rico Mastrodonato, CLCV’s Northern California Director. “The June primary will go a long way in determining the Legislature’s political will and commitment to tackle California’s most urgent and complex environmental issues.”

Other California Environmental Scorecard Highlights:

Perfect 100s: Nine Senators (Senators Alquist, Chesbro, Kehoe, Kuehl, Lowenthal, Migden, Simitian, Torlakson, and Vincent) and 22 Assemblymembers (Assemblymembers Bass, Berg, Bermúdez, Chan, Chu, Evans, Goldberg, Hancock, Klehs, Laird, Leno, Levine, Lieber, Montañez, Mullin, Nation, Nuñez, Pavley, Ridley-Thomas, Ruskin, Saldaña, and Yee)

The 2005 California Environmental Scorecard, an annual voter guide, scores elected officials’ votes on key state measures that preserve, protect, restore and enhance the health of California’s environment. Now in its 32nd year, the Scorecard is the authoritative source on the state’s environmental politics. The California Environmental Scorecard can be found at www.ecovote.org/scorecards/2005.