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2007 California Environmental Scorecard
Year In Review
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A Successful Year for CLCV
Notwithstanding the challenges of the 2007 session, CLCV showed measurable success in its main activities—getting pro-environmental legislators elected and leading the Green California process to sharpen the power and influence of the environmental community in Sacramento.
We believe environmental support in the Assembly on tough floor votes improved notably as a result of CLCV’s electoral victories in 2006. Only four freshman Assemblymembers first elected in 2004 scored 100% in their first Scorecard; this year 11 achieved a perfect score. Four of these first-termers—Beall, DeSaulnier, Price and Soto—scored dramatically higher than their predecessors, and five more freshmen—Charles Calderon, Carter, Hernandez, Salas, and Solorio—while not scoring 100%, scored significantly better than those they replaced. CLCV worked actively in support of DeSaulnier, Hernandez, Salas and Solorio in their hotly contested 2006 primary races. Thanks to the strength of this freshman class, we expect to reap the rewards of a stronger environmental Assembly for years to come.
Other notable CLCV-endorsed members of this freshman class are Mike Feuer and Jared Huffman. Although they replaced former Assembly members with strong environmental records, both Feuer and Huffman are stars in the making and both introduced an impressive portfolio of pro-environmental legislation in 2007.
The challenge now is to get the best environmental bills to the Assembly floor for a vote. As we mentioned earlier, two of the most important environmental bills of the year—SB 375 and SB 974—could come up for a vote as early as January. CLCV will be ready to bring all of our resources to bear in order to get this legislation off the floor and to the governor.
In its second full year, Green California, a CLCV-led program, continued to grow and extend its effectiveness in the capitol. Green California’s priority bill lists have become a benchmark for many legislators, including those in positions of leadership. To capitalize on this opportunity, Green California’s diverse member organizations are currently evaluating how best to communicate a strategic yet comprehensive environmental agenda to legislators, media outlets, and California voters. CLCV recently sponsored the third annual Green California Summit, which was attended by 90 attendees from over 60 member groups who evaluated the 2007 legislative session and strategized on building political power.
Next page: "Is There A Pattern?"
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