The Maryland General Assembly is getting greener on environmental issues and so are Republican lawmakers, according to the League of Conservation Voters, which released its annual scorecard on legislators Tuesday.
“The scores increased across the board,” league Executive Director Cindy Schwartz said. “The Republicans have really made some progress.”
This was the first year since the group began keeping score in 1979 that no legislator scored a zero, Schwartz said. But five Republican senators and two delegates rated below 20 percent, the lowest scores in the legislature.
The ratings were based on votes on issues such as car emission standards, energy efficiency, stormwater management, solar energy and even measures which failed to pass, such as creating a new Green Fund based on fees for new construction. The full scorecard is available online at examiner.com.
The average score for senators was up 10 points to 69 percent, with Republicans tripling their average from 13 percent to 38 percent. Average House scores were up 13 points to 80 percent, with Republican delegates nearly doubling their score to 50 percent.
The league was most impressed with what it called the “fabulous freshmen,” the 37 delegates and 11 senators. Republican Del. Steve Schuh, Anne Arundel County, who scored 71 percent, called the league “a leading voice” for the environment.
“They hold us accountable for our votes and we hate that,” Schuh said. “It makes us think twice” about votes on environmental issues.
Del. Anne Healey, D-Prince George?s County, who had a perfect 100 score, said there was the impression that the legislature didn?t accomplish much this year, but that was because “we didn?t fight much. We were on the same side,” particularly on the environment.
“We accomplished a lot on the environmental front,” said Sen. Rob Garagiola, D-Montgomery County, who scored 89 percent. He noted the Republican support for increasing vehicle emission standards and supporting greater use of solar energy.
Next year?s legislative session may be more difficult for environmental issues as lawmakers deal with funding a $1.4 billion deficit, Schwartz said.
“It will be a real test of the legislators,” she said.
(Click here to see the League of Conservation Voters scorecard.)
