2011 Environmental Scorecard for Members of the 125Th Maine Legislature Contents Message from the Executive Director and Board President
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2011 Environmental Scorecard for Members of the 125th Maine Legislature Contents Message from the Executive Director and Board President ........................................................................................1 A New Page for Maine’s Environment .................................................................................................................................2 Bill Descriptions ...........................................................................................................................................................................4 Legislative Scores........................................................................................................................................................................7 Beyond the Roll Calls .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Legislative Directory ...............................................................................................................................................................17 Board of Directors Advisory Board Leslie Harroun, President Robert O. Blake Roger Berle, Vice President Gordon Glover Ralph Pope, Treasurer E. Christopher Livesay Howard Lake, Secretary Sean Mahoney Caroline M. Pryor, Chairwoman Neil Rolde Daniel Amory, Past President James St. Pierre Jennifer Burns Gray Clinton Townsend Olde Federal Building Pete Didisheim 295 Water Street, Suite 9 M. Wing Goodale Staff Maureen Drouin, Executive Director Augusta, ME 04330 Karen Herold Glen Brand, Field Director (207) 620-8811 Horace A. Hildreth, Jr. Anne Duperault, Program & www.maineconservation.org Sherry Huber Communications Coordinator [email protected] Rebecca Lambert Rani Sheaffer, Development Director George LaPointe Jon Lund Special thanks to Beth Ahearn, Jeff Pidot Carol Kelly and Woody Mawhinney Jim Wellehan Design by: brightredbicycle design Photo credit: Rebecca Lambert Welcome 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 Leslie Harroun Executive Director Board President 2011 Environmental Scorecard 1 A New Page for Maine’s Environment As the first bells of the 2011 legislative session rang, Maine Conservation Voters was facing a host of unknowns. What would Governor LePage’s approach be to Maine’s environment? Would Maine’s House and Senate stand solidly behind our water, land and wildlife, or would we see weakening of core protections? And most importantly, would lawmakers recognize and embrace Maine’s environment as central to our economic prosperity, or would they revive the old false choice of pitting one against each other? To learn the Governor’s position, we didn’t have long to wait. Governor LePage jumped into the session with his proposal for LD 1, a “regulatory reform” bill. Many provisions would have retreated from long-standing bipartisan policies, and put our health, our environment and our economy at unnecessary risk. The response from Maine people was immediate and forceful. Within days, the halls of the State Gov. LePage House were filled with loggers, fishermen, Maine Guides and others whose livelihood depends on Maine’s natural resources. They came from all over the state and included mothers, scientists, small business owners, community leaders and municipal officials. They spoke out in defense of Maine’s water, land and wildlife as central to our economy and our quality of life. In the end, legislators were able to sort through the good and the harmful elements of LD 1 and pass a bill that improved how Maine’s regulatory system works. Republican and Democratic leaders worked hard to bring people together and find common sense solutions. Their efforts clearly showed they understood that good jobs and a clean environment go hand-in-hand. While it wasn’t all good news in the Legislature, 2 Maine Conservation Voters harm was minimized. And some of our earlier questions were answered. While Governor LePage’s approach to environmental policy is generally out- of-step with Maine values, the good news is that the Legislature listens to Maine people and will stand up strongly for common sense laws that protect our clean waters, natural areas and wildlife. Now that the session is over, we are watching closely to make sure there is no undermining of our environmental policies from within the departments of oversight. At the same time, we must plan for next year, when we will face additional threats to Maine’s North Woods, clean energy, smart planning and development and the state’s ability to enforce important environmental laws. We are confident that the power of Maine people and the leadership of Maine legislators will protect and defend the good health, good jobs and quality of life that Maine’s environment provides to all of us. 2011 Environmental Scorecard 3 2011public health Bill Descriptions Sponsored by: Rep. Peter Edgecomb smart growth and land LD 228 - Pesticides An Act To Revise Notification Requirements for Pesticide Application LD 228 repealed Maine’s pesticide notification registry, a common sense and effective system requiring that neighbors and landowners be notified in advance of aerial and air-blaster pesticide spraying near their homes. Over 1,800 people had signed up for the registry in the program’s first year. Pesticides can cause serious health problems, including birth defects, cancer, asthma and developmental disabilities. Pesticide spray can drift off-target and contaminate organically grown produce. Pro-Environment Vote: No House Roll Call #99 (June 1, 2011): Yes 79; No 69; Absent 2 Senate Roll Call #110 (May 25, 2011): Yes 21; No 14 MOFGA Final Outcome: Bill passed and signed by the Governor public health Sponsored by: Rep. James Hamper smart growth and land LD 412 - BPA Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 882: Designation of Bisphenol A as a Priority Chemical and Regulation of Bisphenol A in Children’s Products, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Environmental Protection The Legislature overwhelmingly voted to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in reusable food and beverage containers including baby bottles and sippy cups. BPA is linked to a range of health risks, and safer alternatives are already available in the marketplace. Pro-Environment Vote: Yes House Roll Call #17 (April 7, 2011): Yes 145; No 3; Absent 3 Senate Roll Call #33 (April 12, 2011): Yes 35; No 0 Laura Brady Laura Final Outcome: Bill passed without the Governor’s signature energy and climate Sponsored by: Rep. Jonathan McKane jobs and economy LD 1416 - Energy Code An Act To Provide Options to Municipalities Concerning the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code The Legislature voted to weaken Maine’s Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) by exempting all towns with a population of less than 4,000 (400 of Maine’s 526 towns). MUBEC provides minimum quality, safety and energy-efficiency building standards. The exemption means that Mainers living in small towns will not be protected from construction of lower quality buildings that waste more energy, result in increased air pollution and cost more to heat. Pro-Environment Vote: No House Roll Call #173 (June 14, 2011): Yes 76;