Scorecard 2006
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CONSERVATION SCORECARD 2005-2006 for the Wisconsin Legislature WLCV Board Members Who are your legislators? Tom Thoresen, President, Fitchburg Not sure who your state legislators are? Visit the map on our website at: http://conservationvoters.org/districts/ Anjali Bhasin, Madison or call (800) 362-9472. Ann Brodek, Wind Point Dan Collins, Mequon Stan Gruszynski, Porterfield About the Wisconsin League of Don Last, Madison Thomas Miller, Waupaca Conservation Voters Chris Noyes, Whitefish Bay The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters (WLCV) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders to the state legislature. Advisory Council Members WLCV encourages lawmakers to champion Organizations and affiliations are listed for identification conservation policies that effectively protect purposes only. Wisconsin’s public health and natural resources. Gene Ecklor, Elkhart Lake In pursuit of its mission, WLCV engages in voter President, Whitetails Unlimited, Sheboygan County education, lobbying and issue advocacy. WLCV also Chapter issues candidate endorsements and actively works for Board member, Sheboygan County Conservation the election of candidates committed to strong and Association effective conservation policies. Member of Ad Hoc Committee, Recreational Land To learn more about the Wisconsin League of Use Planning Committee Conservation Voters or to view the Conservation Life member, National Rifle Association Scorecard 2005-2006 online, visit Life member, North American Hunting Club http://conservationvoters.org/scorecard/. Delegate, Hunter Education Conservation Club Marc Gorelick, MD, Wauwatosa Doctor, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Contact information Paul J. Mongin, CFP, Green Bay President, Trout Unlimited, Green Bay Chapter Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters David Peterson, Balsalm Lake 306 E. Wilson St. #2E Conservation Planner, Polk County Land and Madison, WI 53703 Water Resources Department (608) 661-0845 fax (608) 260-9799 Certified Crop Advisor, American Society of Agronomy [email protected] Instructor, DNR Hunter Education http://conservationvoters.org Member, Pheasants Forever Wayne Schroeder, Grand Chute Green Bay Racine County Chair, Wisconsin Conservation Congress 1642 Western Ave. 310 5th St., Suite 101A (Outagamie County) Green Bay, WI 54303 Racine, WI 53403 State Board, National Wild Turkey Federation (920) 429-9008 (262) 898-7354 Board of Governors, Fox River Academy Charter School Luck Waukesha Instructor, Hunter Safety 2596 Highway 35 W271 S3581 Oak Knoll Dr. President, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters Luck, WI 54853 Waukesha, WI 53189 Institute (715) 472-5000 (262) 894-8443 l Silverman, MD, Car Madison Milwaukee Volunteer Physician, Access Community 739 W. Juneau Ave. Health Center Milwaukee, WI 53233 Volunteer Tutor, Thoreau Elementary School (414) 315-4127 Vice Chair, Madison Community Development Block Grant Commission Caryl Terrell, Madison Lobbyist, Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Bill Descriptions. 2 The Conservation Scorecard 2005-2006 is your guide to how your Wisconsin state legislators voted on key Charts . 6 conservation issues during the past legislative session. Special Recognition . 12 During the 2005-2006 legislative session a number of pro-conservation bills became law, with none standing out more than the Clean Energy Bill. Currently, in Wisconsin, over 90 percent of our energy comes from dirty coal power plants or dangerous and expensive nuclear plants. The Clean Energy Bill requires Wisconsin to produce 10 percent of its energy from clean, renewable sources like wind and solar. In addition, it protects the Focus on Energy Fund, which promotes energy conservation and efficiency and explores renewable energy technologies. The Clean Energy Bill, a major conservation victory, was the result of two years of hard work, thousands of calls and letters from concerned citizens and determined legislative leaders. While it is legislators who ultimately cast the votes that determine Wisconsin’s conservation policies, the real power lies in the hands of voters like you—you determine who makes those decisions. We hope that you’ll use the Conservation Scorecard 2005-2006 to get the information you need to become an educated conservation voter. Throughout the Wisconsin legislature’s two-year session, the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters tracks each and every conservation bill. This Conservation Scorecard 2005-2006 reports on the most important of those bills that were voted on in the full Senate and Assembly and in the important Joint Finance Committee. The Conservation Scorecard Advisory Council—an independent and diverse group of conservation leaders, health professionals, and academics—recommends which votes to include. The Board of Directors of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters makes the final decision. The goal of the Scorecard is to provide objective, factual information about the voting records of Wisconsin’s Senators and Representatives. The Scorecard is designed to provide voters with the information necessary to distinguish true stewards of Wisconsin’s environment from those who just talk about it. Conservation Scorecard 2005-2006 • conservationvoters.org 1 BILL DESCRIPTIONS The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters tracks every important conservation bill as it moves through the leg- islative process. To learn more about these bills and view their complete history, please visit the Conservation Vote Tracker at conservationvoters.org/votetracker/. SB 1 DEMOCRACY SB 467 WATER QUALITY AB 277 AIR QUALITY A strong democratic process is one of the For Wisconsin citizens, groundwater is the Toxic air emissions can lead to respiratory most significant ways the conservation con- main source of their drinking water. Improp- problems, cancer, birth defects, neurological cerns of Wisconsin citizens can be heard erly installed and maintained wells can con- damage, reproductive problems, and devel- over the influence of campaign contribu- taminate drinking water. SB 467 ensures opmental delays. AB 277, the Dirty Air Bill, tions from polluting interests. SB 1 would that well drillers are properly supervised will degrade air quality by exempting pol- have strengthened our democracy by creat- and simplifies the enforcement process for luters from construction permits and limit- ing a Government Accountability Board that any violations, further protecting the safety ing the amount of public input on proposals would be vested with greater power to of drinking water for Wisconsin citizens. for new and expanding polluting facilities. investigate and prosecute wrongdoing by The pro-conservation vote is yes. The pro-conservation vote is no. state and local public officials. Status: Status: The pro-conservation vote is yes. •Passed Senate. •Passed Senate. Status: •Passed Assembly on voice vote.* •Passed Assembly. •Passed Joint Finance Committee. •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. •Passed Senate. •SB1 Special Assembly Motion: Assembly SB 551 WETLANDS AB 278 ENFORCEMENT leaders, Representative Huebsch and Speaker Gard, refused to schedule SB 1 for The DNR uses science to make decisions for AB 278 would have taken away the Wisconsin a full Assembly vote. Therefore, Represen- protecting Wisconsin’s wetlands. SB 551 Department of Justice’s and local govern- tative Pocan made a motion to the full would have compromised that system by ments’ ability to protect the public against Assembly to have SB 1 voted on by the full creating an exemption to the DNR’s science- nuisances that harm human health and Assembly. The motion failed 43-53. based approach to allow a single owner to degrade Wisconsin’s water, air, and land. build in a wetland. The pro-conservation vote is no. SB 402 HUMAN HEALTH The pro-conservation vote is no. Status: SB 402 was a companion bill to AB 778. Status: •Passed Assembly. See AB 778 for the bill description. •Passed Senate. •This bill was never taken up by the Senate. The pro-conservation vote is no. •Passed Assembly. Status: •Vetoed by Governor Doyle. AB 299 WATER QUALITY •Passed Senate. Shoreland zoning ordinances are established •Passed Assembly on voice vote.* AB 26 WILDLIFE to protect water quality from harmful effects •Vetoed by Governor Doyle. When poachers take excessive game they can of ill-planned development. AB 299 would negatively impact Wisconsin wildlife popula- have removed protections for many lakes and SB 425 ENFORCEMENT tions. AB 26 authorizes Wisconsin to become streams by allowing developers in some areas SB 425 would have taken away the a member of a multi-state compact that to build closer to the water, causing more Wisconsin Department of Justice’s ability to allows states to take action against and pro- damage. fight on behalf of the public against tect themselves from poachers who violate The pro-conservation vote is no. nuisances that harm human health and hunting and fishing laws from state to state. Status: degrade Wisconsin’s water, air and land. The pro-conservation vote is yes. •Passed Senate. The pro-conservation vote is no. Status: •Passed Assembly on voice vote.* Status: •Passed Joint Finance Committee. •Vetoed by Governor Doyle. •Passed Senate. •Passed Senate. • This bill was never taken up by the Assembly. •Passed Assembly on voice vote.* AB 437 LAND USE •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. AB 437 forces local governments to sell their SB 459 ENERGY land to utilities so that transmission lines and SB 459, the Clean