1999-2000 Session in Review
Voting for the Environment
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 and negative – on the long-term quality of our environment. For these reasons, it is important for Maine people to know how their elected representatives 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.
The 119th Legislature enacted many important bills that add to the level of protection of Maine’s environmental resources. Lawmakers approved and sent to the voters a $50 million bond to purchase public lands. They also enacted new laws to reduce mercury pollution, establish Maine’s first ecological reserves, promote the purchase of clean-burning vehicles, and curb sprawl.
As this year’s Environmental Scorecard reveals, Maine’s legislators during the 1999 and 2000 legislative sessions appeared to be more in touch with the public’s strong support for environmental protection than in previous years. On average, Maine’s legislators cast pro-environment votes 58 % of the time on a broad range of important environmental roll call votes that came before the House and Senate during the 119th Legislature. 56 Legislators earned very strong environmental ratings (a score of 80% or higher), yet 23 had sharply anti-environmental records (a score of 20% or lower).
The kind of information provided by the Maine LCV scorecard is important for Maine voters to consider as they evaluate the performance of their elected representatives. Our elected
officials must be held accountable for the votes they cast on bills to conserve and protect Maine’s environment. Maine needs a Legislature comprised of representatives who have a strong commitment to the careful stewardship of our state’s natural resources.The Maine League of Conservation Voters urges you to be an informed voter. Please communicate with your representatives. Ask questions about the environmental positions of new candidates. Join other voters who believe in greater accountability for our elected officials by supporting the Maine League of Conservation Voters today.
