2013-2014 Legislative Scorecard

Legislative Scorecard Votes and Leadership 2013-14 LEGISLATIVE SESSION - 1 - This is the inaugural edition of the Environmental League of Massachusetts legislative scorecard. We produced this scorecard to inform citizens about how their legislators voted on important environmental issues. We are pleased and grateful for the support of so many environmental leaders in the legislature. The scorecard relies first on roll call votes on legislation that deals with environmental and energy issues. Because there are so few roll call votes each session—and often these votes are unanimous—we have scored additional actions by legislators to further distinguish environmental champions. Bonus points were awarded to legislators who introduced bills that were ELM priorities or who introduced important amendments, particularly budget amendments to increase funding for state environmental agencies. In addition, we subtracted points for legislators who introduced legislation or amendments that we opposed. We want to recognize leadership and courage, in addition to votes, and have made every attempt to be fair and transparent in our scoring. Much happens during the legislative process that is impractical to score such as committee redrafts, committee votes to move or hold a bill, and measures that would improve flawed legislation. We have not attempted to include these actions, but we recognize that they greatly influence the process and outcomes. None of the bills or amendments scored here should be a surprise to legislators in terms of ELM’s support or opposition. Going forward, ELM will include votes and other actions that support additional revenues for transportation and promote transit, walking and biking. George Bachrach, President Erica Mattison, Legislative Director Highlights of the Session projects. Notably, the bill includes a definition of “green infrastructure” for the first time in statute and allows The legislature passed a number of important bills that Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will move the state forward on natural resource and (DEP) to use “green infrastructure” as a criterion for public health protections. granting additional financial incentives. A $2.2 billion environmental bond bill was enacted Methodology that includes authorization for capital projects related to land acquisition, water and air quality, state and The top score for those who voted in line with our urban parks, farm protection and viability, climate position on all roll call votes is 95%. In the Senate, we change adaptation, and solid waste and recycling, included 10 roll call votes, so each vote is valued at 9.5 among other items. points. In the House, we included six roll call votes, with each vote valued at 15.8 points. Five bonus points for Natural gas leaks legislation passed—a good first step leadership were added for introducing an ELM priority in dealing with this critical issue. These leaks pose a bill or amendment and five points were subtracted for triple threat to Massachusetts: endangering public introducing a bill or amendment we opposed. safety, releasing the potent greenhouse gas methane, We capped scores at 100%, although it is worth noting and costing ratepayers millions of dollars. We have that a number of legislators received scores over 100% some of the oldest natural gas pipelines in the country, due to multiple leadership actions. We thank these and thousands of leaks —at least 20,000 throughout legislators for going above and beyond in their advocacy the state. The bill requires uniform leak classifications for a clean and healthy environment. and repair timelines and establishes benchmarks for reducing lost and unaccounted for gas to reduce costs The scorecard excludes lawmakers from last session to customers. The bill will significantly reduce risks to who are no longer in the legislature. We have prorated the public, the climate and customers’ pocketbooks. scores for those that were elected in special elections. We did not subtract points if a legislator was absent Progress was made on dealing with aging water from a roll call vote. infrastructure that has been long ignored. This legislation establishes a new Massachusetts Clean Water Trust as We hope that the public and our elected officials find the successor to the Water Pollution Abatement Trust this scorecard a useful and balanced reflection of the and increases funding available for water infrastructure 2013-2014 legislative session. Front Cover Photo: Courtesy of Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism | Printed on 100% post-consumer paper - 2 - Roll Call Votes We awarded bonus points to those who filed bills and amendments we supported. We deducted points from those who filed bills and amendments we opposed. HOUSE SENATE FY14 Budget (HB3400) — 4/23/2013 FY2014 Budget (SB3) — 5/22/2013 An Act relative to natural gas leaks Consolidated Amendment C. Amendment #130, filed by Senator Richard (HB4164) — 6/12/2014 Increases funding for Energy and Ross: Would give the Joint Committee on State Filed by Rep. Lori Ehrlich: Acceptance of the Environmental Affairs agencies. Administration and Regulatory Oversight conference committee version; establishes authority to review all newly adopted state ELM position: Support natural gas leak classification standards and agency regulations; also would give authority to requirements for repairs. Status: Passed approve, disapprove, or disapprove and amend ELM position: Support regulations before they take effect. Status: Passed FY15 Budget (HB4000) — 4/29/2014 ELM position: Oppose (Chapter 149 of the Acts of 2014). Consolidated Amendment C. Status: Failed Increases funding for Energy and Environmental Affairs agencies. An Act fueling job creation through ELM position: Support An Act relative to natural gas leaks energy efficiency (SB2255) — (SB2073) — 4/10/2014 Status: Passed 7/10/2014 Amendment #12, filed by Senator Jamie Filed by Senator Brian Joyce: Requires that the Eldridge: Would require that Dept. of Public Massachusetts Development Finance Agency Environmental Bond Bill Utilities review include a full analysis of the (HB4138) — 6/4/2014 establish a commercial sustainable energy greenhouse gas emissions impacts of proposed program and issue Property Assessed Clean Consolidated Amendment. expansion, including an accounting of life cycle Energy (PACE) bonds to fund sustainable Increases funding. fugitive emissions. energy projects on a commercial or industrial ELM position: Support ELM position: Support property. Provides municipalities the option Status: Passed Status: Failed to participate in the program; requires that a benefitted property owner requesting financing agree to betterment assessments. An Act relative to natural gas FY15 Budget (SB4) — 5/21/2014 leaks (HB4164) — 6/11/2014 ELM position: Support Amendment #4, filed by Senator Cynthia Status: Passed Senate Filed by Rep. Lori Ehrlich: Creem: Approves a transfer of up to $25 Establishes natural gas leak million from the state surplus to the classification standards and Community Preservation Trust Fund. Environmental Bond Bill (SB2250) — requirements for repairs. 7/10/2014 ELM position: Support ELM position: Support Amendment #151, filed by Senator Bruce Status: Passed Status: Passed Tarr: Increases the Conservation Land Tax (Chapter 149 of the Acts of 2014). (Chapter 165 of the Acts of 2014). Credit from $50,000 to $75,000. ELM position: Support Environmental Bond Bill FY15 Budget (SB4) — 5/21/2014 Status: Passed (HB4375) — 7/31/2014 Amendment #54, filed by Senator Cynthia (Chapter 286 of the Acts of 2014). Authorizes $2.2 billion for capital Creem: Establishes Massachusetts Zero projects related to land acquisition, Emission Vehicle Commission for the purpose Environmental Bond Bill (HB4375) — water and air quality, state and urban of studying benefits and costs of zero emission 7/31/2014 vehicle use in the Commonwealth. parks, farm protection and viability, Appropriates $2.2 billion for capital projects climate adaptation, and solid waste ELM position: Support related to land acquisition, water and air and recycling, among other items. Status: Passed quality, state and urban parks, farm protection ELM position: Support (Chapter 165 of the Acts of 2014). and viability, climate adaptation, and solid Status: Passed waste and recycling, among other items. (Chapter 286 of the Acts of 2014). An Act relative to the expansion of ELM position: Support the Boston Convention and Exhibition Status: Passed An Act improving drinking Center (SB2188) — 6/12/2014 (Chapter 286 of the Acts of 2014). water and wastewater Amendment #7, filed by Senator Brian Joyce: infrastructure (SB2021) — Adds a requirement to the $1 billion Boston An Act improving drinking water and 7/31/2014 Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) wastewater infrastructure (SB2021) — Filed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge: expansion bond bill that the BCEC Authority 7/31/2014 Establishes a new Massachusetts achieve LEED Silver New Construction Filed by Senator Jamie Eldridge: Establishes a Clean Water Trust as the successor to Certification, and also comply with the energy new Massachusetts Clean Water Trust as the the Water Pollution Abatement Trust efficiency requirements of either the “Stretch successor to the Water Pollution Abatement and increases funding available for Energy Code” or the Massachusetts energy Trust and increases funding available for water infrastructure projects. code, whichever is more stringent. water infrastructure projects. ELM position: Support ELM position: Support

Load more