Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Virginia enera sse Conservation ore ar
Conservation Scorecard 2013 Table of Contents
p2 A Letter from the Virginia League Executive Director p3 The Political Force for Conservation p5 2013 Legislative Heroes p6 Know the Score p7 Session Highlights and Scorecard Vote Key p13 The Importance of Bill Patrons p14 House Scorecard p17 Senate Scorecard p19 House Districts Map p20 Senate Districts Map p21 Keep the Ban p22 200 Years of Legislative Experience
2013 Scorecard Acknowledgements Content: Jeff Painter, Executive Director, Emily Francis, Deputy Director, Travis Blankenship, Carter Hutchinson Map Graphics: Commonwealth of Virginia, Division of Legislative Services Graphic Design: Michael Harl, DIALOGUE Front Cover Photo: Barn and Peaks of Otter by Patty Love Courtesy of Scenic Virginia, ScenicVirginia.org Board of Directors John B. Jaske, Chairman, George L. Ohrstrom, II, Vice Chairman, Sam Bleicher, Leslie Cheek, III, John Grant, Roy Hoagland, Austin Ligon, Lori Keenan McGuinness, Christopher G. Miller, Jean Perin, Dick Raines, Rab Thompson, Carey Whitehead
Legis ative Lea ers i ar
Throughout the Scorecard you will notice plaques like this one noting recipients of the Virginia League’s 2013 Legislative Leadership Awards for their important assistance on conservation issues o ort ession ie s rogress for Conservation While the atmosphere was at times icy, Our successes were achieved by new Attorney General, an office with especially in the evenly divided Senate reaching out as never before to both sides far-reaching legal powers to weigh in on of Virginia, the 2013 General Assembly of the aisle with a strong focus on making important conservation issues. Finally, Session will be long remembered for its conservation issues non-partisan. We we are guaranteed at least nine new bold, and in some cases historic, horse- supported an equal number of measures faces in the House of Delegates due to trading to push major legislation across from both political parties and worked with retirements and perhaps a few more after the finish line. Such movement on larger a diverse group of Delegates and Senators November’s election results are tallied. issues is unusual for the so-called “short regardless of party or past conservation Between these House races and the session” which saw the legislators at the score. We specifically targeted several statewide contests, 2013 will see some Capitol for only 46 days. local groups around the Commonwealth amazing changes as the political pendulum Three major legislative issues became with which to work, strategically co- is once again set in motion. While all quickly intertwined: a partisan fight in ordinating our efforts in each legislator's eyes are on the Commonwealth, the the Senate over attempts to dramatically home district, as well as inside the Virginia League will be working hard to redraw district lines, an expansion of Capitol. We will advance these strategic make sure our newly elected leaders are Medicaid coverage under the Affordable initiatives throughout the year as we reach pro-conservation and push forward good Care Act and a push in his final year of out to legislators and partners in various public policy once in office. office by Governor Bob McDonnell for the regions of the Commonwealth to ensure Our successes in the 2013 General first overhaul of Virginia’s transportation our efforts continue to pay conservation Assembly Session and throughout the funding system in over 25 years. dividends well into the future. remainder of the year are only possible Alongside and sometimes in the With the only hotly contested Governor’s because of your continued support of the middle of these historic battles, the Virginia race in the Nation, all eyes are once again on Virginia League. Please know how very League of Conservation Voters secured Virginia as we publish this, our 14th Annual important your active participation is to important conservation successes during Conservation Scorecard. The Governor the Virginia League’s efforts to defend the 2013 General Assembly session. of Virginia is one of the most powerful and advance our shared vision for the These included: forcing the withdrawal of executives in any state, making over 900 Commonwealth’s natural resources. legislation to lift the ban on uranium mining; appointments to decision-making boards defeating attempts to repeal Virginia’s and commissions each year of their tenure. highly successful land preservation tax These appointments hold great sway over credit program; successfully establishing our air, water and land-use policies. an agricultural net-metering policy; new Virginia will also elect a new Lieutenant protections for the important menhaden Governor, who will become the all-im- Jeff Painter fishery; and preventing a radical new portant tie-breaking vote in the equally Executive Director
by Richard Koth | Courtesy of Scenic Virginia by Richard Galore : Hayrolls definition of agricultural lands. divided Senate and we will also elect a Virginia League of Conservation Voters c r e d i t
p h o t o Conservation Scorecard 2013 e o iti a or e for Conservation The Virginia League of Conservation Conservation Endorsements spaces. To actively engage residents Voters protects resources important to The Virginia League is one of the few in the protection of these important all Virginians: clean air and water, thriving organizations in the state that endorses natural resources, the Virginia communities and rural landscapes, and seeks to elect candidates to office. Conservation Network and the productive farms and forests, historic Along with the scores in our Conservation Virginia League of Conservation battlefields and Main Streets, and ample Scorecard, we conduct research, adminis- Voters-Education Fund created the public lands and recreation. ter candidate questionnaires and perform Legislative Contact Team Program in To do this, we secure good public personal interviews to determine which the fall of 2002. policies at the state level, hold elected candidates deserve our “conservation The Program recruits and trains officials accountable for their positions seal of approval.” volunteers to serve as conservation on conservation and endorse conservation- After being endorsed by our Board contacts in their home legislative minded candidates for state level offices. of Directors, candidates are provided districts. Program participants We are unique among Virginia’s conservation with political field expertise and financial learn about important conservation community in that we are the political force backing. We educate conservation voters topics and then speak directly to for conservation at the State Capitol. about the best candidates and work hard their legislators about preserving Conservation Accountability to ensure our endorsed candidates win. our natural landscape and solving Our annual Conservation Scorecard is our most pressing problems. The Conservation Advocacy the only tool available to Virginians that more our elected officials hear from Once elections are final Virginia League demonstrates how our elected officials conservationists in their districts, the staff and volunteers increase their perform on behalf of our environment. better our environment. advocacy activities on behalf of Virginia’s Knowing what happens in committee To date, the Program has trained natural landscape. We work to inform rooms and on the floor of both the House thousands of volunteers to communicate elected officials about the value and and Senate chambers is critical informa- effectively with elected leaders. Close to benefits of conservation and to push tion. We honor the best conservation 400 participants, in nearly every House forward sound conservation policy. legislators for their hard work during the and Senate district, have been involved There are two ways you can get General Assembly and we shine a public in advocacy efforts related to the 2013 involved in our advocacy efforts: spotlight on the remaining legislators who General Assembly Session. Thanks to didn’t quite do enough. It is critical that 1) Legislative Contact Teams those outspoken individuals all across you talk with your elected officials about Our environment is better protected Virginia, our conservation voice at the their scores included in this Conservation when residents all across the Capitol is stronger than ever. Scorecard. Let them know our environ- Commonwealth speak in favor of To join the Program or for more ment is worth preserving. clean air, clean water and open information, visit valcvef.org.