1997-1998 Session in Review
Environmental Votes Matter in Maine
The natural environment is one of Maine’s most precious assets. For the health of our economy and quality of life, protecting our air, water, forests, and wildlife is extremely important. During each session of the Maine Legislature, our elected representatives determine the fate of bills that can have major implications — positive or negative — on the long-term quality of our environment. For these reasons, it is important for Maine people to know how their elected representatives have voted on the most important environmental protection issues that have come before the Legislature.
That is why the Maine League of Conservation Voters (Maine LCV) has issued a scorecard at the end of each two-year legislative cycle since 1986 with the environmental voting record for every member of the Maine State House of Representatives and Senate.
As this year’s Environmental Scorecard reveals, the majority of Maine’s elected officials do not have strong environmental voting records. Maine’s legislators — on average — cast pro-environment votes only 42% of the time on a broad range of important environmental roll call votes that came before the House and Senate during 1997 and 1998. Twenty-one legislators earned very strong environmental ratings (a score of 90% or higher), yet more than twice as many (49) had sharply anti-environmental records (a score of 10% or lower). Information such as provided by the Maine LCV scorecard is important for Maine voters to consider as they decide which candidates to support at the polls.
Our elected officials must be held accountable for the votes they cast on bills to conserve and protect Maine’s environment. Conservation leaders in the State House should be supported for their efforts, while those who repeatedly vote against environmental bills should be challenged. We need a Legislature comprised of representatives who have a strong commitment to the careful stewardship of Maine’s environment.
The quality of our environment and our economy in the future will depend upon the decisions we make now, including the decisions we make on Election Day. The Maine League of Conservation Voters urges you to be an informed voter. Communicate with your representatives. Ask questions about the environmental positions of new candidates. Volunteer to work on the campaigns of those who promise to be champions for Maine’s environment. Join other voters who believe in greater accountability for our elected officials by supporting the Maine League of Conservation Voters today.
