2011 Session in Review
Dear Maine Conservationist,
This year marks the 25th anniversary of MCV’s Environmental Scorecard, and what a year it’s been. The challenges we faced in 2011 were a timely reminder of how important MCV’s mission is to Maine’s economy and environment.
A struggling economy coupled with new political leadership in Augusta ushered in a fierce wave of aggressive attacks against the laws that protect our natural areas, clean air and water, wildlife and children’s health. The breadth and audacity of this assault were unprecedented.
In response to this threat, we came together like never before. People and businesses from across the state and from all walks of life rose up and defended our environment by writing, calling, emailing and meeting directly with their elected officials. The message was loud and clear: Maine’s environment and our economy go hand-in-hand.
With a few notable exceptions, legislators listened. You helped defeat attempts to: roll back protections for wildlife and natural areas; repeal Maine’s new ban on the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer and children’s products; withdraw Maine from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; lift the state’s long-standing ban on commercial billboards; and weaken Maine’s bottle bill, our most successful recycling effort.
How did your elected officials vote during the session? Did they support human health or toxic pesticides? Pollution or clean water? Bulldozers or healthy forests?
We know you look to MCV’s Environmental Scorecard for non-partisan, objective information. For 25 years, we’ve publicly reported how each legislator voted on bills protecting Maine’s environment. In addition, we feature high and low points of the session and highlight examples of political courage on both sides of the aisle.
We give you the score. The rest is up to you. It’s so important for your legislators to hear from you with praise or with disappointment. Please take a moment to contact your elected officials. You can do this directly from our website at www.maineconservation.org.
Thank you for your support this session and for standing with us to protect Maine’s natural heritage. As we look toward autumn and another legislative session in January, you can count on MCV to keep score and make sure Maine’s environment remains a priority for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Maureen Drouin, Executive Director
Leslie Harroun, Board President
