Press Release
February 10, 2011

Contact: Jenesse Miller, CLCV – 510.844.0235

California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) Releases 2010 California Environmental Scorecard

Scorecard Describes Behind-the-Scenes Story of Votes on Environmental Legislation

OAKLAND, Calif.  (Feb. 10 2011) – The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) – the political arm of the environmental movement in California – announced the release of its annual California Environmental Scorecard today. The record of the year’s most important environmental votes reveals how Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and members of the state legislature performed on the environment in the 2010 legislative session.

“The story of the 2010 Scorecard is twofold; it’s about how the environmental community stopped multiple attacks on the environment and how we passed strong laws that protect our quality of life,” said Warner Chabot, CLCV Chief Executive Officer.

Emboldened by the tough economic climate, anti-environmental legislators introduced dozens of so-called “regulatory reform” bills in an attempt to weaken environmental protections. As a result, CLCV and its allies in the environmental community and the legislature played defense more than offense. However, environmental advocates were able to deliver several important proposed laws to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk, including bills dealing with energy storage, recycling, water conservation, pesticides, clean energy jobs, and oil spill prevention.

“The good news is that leaders in the environmental community and the legislature successfully defeated all of the bills that posed the most serious threats to the environment and public health. The bad news is we expect more of these attacks in 2011,” said Chabot. “CLCV calls on high-scoring legislators to continue to lead the way in 2011 on improving water quality, increasing clean and renewable energy opportunities, protecting parks, limiting exposure to toxic chemicals, and resisting demands for rollbacks of environmental laws that protect California’s natural heritage and the public’s health.”

After seven years as governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger left office with an average score of 53 percent. In 2010, the governor vetoed seven bills and signed nine into law. Schwarzenegger received national recognition for leadership on environmental issues, but he leaves a mixed legacy as a governor who championed some issues—notably, bold solutions to climate change—but was less reliable on others, including protecting public health and state parks.

“The California Environmental Scorecard is an important tool for our members and other environmental voters, who help us deliver on our mission to hold elected officials accountable to their campaign promises to protect California’s families and natural heritage,” said Chabot. “With the introduction this year of a new interactive, online Scorecard, CLCV is making it even easier for voters to communicate with their elected officials about their environmental performance.”

 

2010 California Environmental Scorecard Highlights:

Governor Schwarzenegger 56% (leaves office with 53% average score)
Senate average 59%
Senate Democrats 91%
Senate Republicans 6%
Senators with 100% score 12
Highest Scoring Senate Republican: Blakeslee, 21%
Lowest Scoring Senate Democrat: Correa, 30%
Assembly average 64%
Assembly Democrats 94%
Assembly Republicans 7%
Assemblymembers with 100% score 30
Highest Scoring Assembly Republican: Fletcher, 19%
Lowest Scoring Assembly Democrat: Huber, 43%

Perfect 100%:

Senators: Alquist, Cedillo, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Hancock, Kehoe, Leno, Liu, A. Lowenthal, Pavley, Steinberg, Yee.

Assemblymembers: Ammiano, Bass, Beall, Blumenfield, Bradford, Brownley, Carter, Chesbro, Coto, de Leon, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Gatto, Hayashi, Hill, Huffman, Jones, Lieu, B. Lowenthal, Monning, Nava, J. Pérez, Ruskin, Salas, Saldaña, Skinner, Swanson, Torlakson, Yamada.

California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.

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