Somerville's green legislators get high marks from Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters
Somerville Journal
Sep 10, 2008
Democrats Rep. William Brownsberger, Carl Sciortino, Timothy Toomey and Cleon Turner received perfect scores from the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters for their 2007-2008 record, aligning with the group's agenda more often than any of their colleagues.
Their 100 percent rating was matched by Reps. David Sullivan and Robert Spellane, both of whom were absent for one or more votes. In the annual metric released by the league, lawmakers were judged according to how they voted on top environmental priorities such as a $1.7 billion environmental bond bill and an act to promote environmental job growth. Other measures included legislators' votes on a tidelands permitting bill, an emergency needs bond bill, budget environmental priorities, a comprehensive clean energy bill, amendments to an energy bill, global warming emissions caps, and whether they signed onto a letter in support of alternative to toxic chemicals.
Unlike the House, the Senate metric also included lawmakers' votes on a bill providing for Election Day registration.
The lawmaker least likely to vote with the league's priorities was GOP Rep. Jeff Perry, who sided with the group 47 percent of the time. Republican Reps. Karyn Polito, Viriato DeMacedo, Susan Gifford, and Mary Rogeness followed closely with 50 percent alignment.
In the Senate, Democratic Sens. Augustus, Creedon, Creem, Jehlen and Spilka supported the league's priorities at a 94 percent clip. Weymouth Republican Sen. Robert Hedlund approved of the league's agenda 59 percent of the time, while Sen. Michael Knapik, a Westfield Republican, supported the league's goals 65 percent of the time.
In its report card, the league cited a litany of "unfinished" bills, several of which remained in the House Ways and Means Committee as formal sessions expired. On the list are bills governing streamflow, requiring safer alternatives to toxic chemicals, protecting public lands, managing electronic waste, controlling diesel emissions, and updating the state's bottle law.