Our Purpose A Proud Tradition Worth Preserving e Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) is the non-partisan We Virginians cherish our heritage. We also love our land. We all want clean political action arm of Virginia’s conservation community. VALCV takes its air, clean water, protection of our farmland and forests, and preservation of our franchise from the local, regional and state conservation groups that defi ne our historical landmarks. issues and priorities. Because most of these groups have a 501(c)(3) non-profi t status, and therefore cannot engage in electoral politics, we undertake that eff ort on Too often, however, our government has allowed our history their behalf. to be paved over, our air and waters to become polluted, and our productive land to be wasted by poorly VALCV’s mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all Virginians planned development. by making conservation a top priority with Virginia’s elected offi cials, political candidates and voters. Virginia deserves elected offi cials who are responsive to the people and the needs of e 2008 General Assembly session showed that our legislative priorities extend the environment. beyond the typical environmental areas of concern like air and water quality. Legislation targeting land use and transportation reform as well as the promotion We must urge our elected offi cials to of energy effi ciency came before lawmakers for their consideration this session. accept the challenge to protect Virginia’s Legislation addressing legislative accountability and citizen involvement in natural resources, our abundant wildlife, government was also a top priority. is legislation has a sweeping impact on the and our irreplaceable historic sites. quality of life all Virginians are able to enjoy. Virginians care about the integrity of the Commonwealth that is left to our We believe that environmentally concerned citizens represent a huge potential children; our elected offi cials should too. force in electoral politics. Too often, candidates for elected offi ce are not asked by the public or the media to articulate their positions on conservation issues. Yet conservation concerns such as sprawl, the quality of our drinking water, the disposal of our waste, and the sanctity of our remaining open spaces continue to be important issues to voters. VIRGINIA LEAGUE of CONSERVATION VOTERS 1 Senator R. Edward Houck Delegate Kenneth C. Alexander Delegate Clifford L. Athey, Jr. Delegate Mamye E. BaCote Delegate William K. Barlow Delegate Joseph F. Bouchard Delegate Robert H. Brink Delegate David L. Bulova Delegate C. Charles Caputo (Spotsylvania), 17th Senate District (Norfolk), 89th House District (Front Royal), 18th House District (Newport News), 95th House District (Smithfield), 65th House District (Virginia Beach), 83rd House District (Arlington), 48th House District (Fairfax), 37th House District (Chantilly), 67th House District Our Legislative Heroes show special dedication to conservation priorities. One senator and 40 delegates voted the right way on the bills VALCV selected for the 2008 Scorecard. These legislators deserve a special show of support for their hard Delegate Rosalyn R. Dance Delegate Adam P. Ebbin Delegate Albert C. Eisenberg work, integrity, and dedication to environmental concerns. Delegate David L. Englin Delegate Jeffrey M. Frederick Delegate Franklin P. Hall Delegate Algie T. Howell Delegate Robert D. Hull Delegate Dwight C. Jones (Petersburg), 63rd House District (Arlington), 49th House District (Arlington), 47th House District (Alexandria), 45th House District (Woodbridge), 52nd House District (Richmond), 69th House District (Norfolk), 90th House District (Falls Church), 38th House District (Richmond), 70th House District Delegate Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr. Delegate David W. Marsden Delegate Robert G. Marshall Delegate Robert W. Mathieson (Accomac), 100th House District Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan Delegate Kenneth R. Melvin Delegate Paula J. Miller Delegate Brian J. Moran Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey Delegate Paul F. Nichols Delegate Kenneth R. Plum Delegate David E. Poisson (Burke), 41st House District (Manassas), 13th House District (Virginia Beach), 21st House District (Richmond), 71st House District (Portsmouth), 80th House District (Norfolk), 87th House District (Alexandria), 46th House District (Highland Springs), 74th House District (Woodbridge), 51st House District (Reston), 36th House District (Sterling), 32nd House District Delegate Albert C. Pollard Delegate James M. Scott Delegate Stephen C. Shannon Delegate James M. Shuler Delegate Mark D. Sickles Delegate David J. Toscano Delegate Shannon R. Valentine Delegate Margaret G. Vanderhye Delegate Jeion A. Ward Delegate Onzlee Ware Delegate Vivian E. Watts (Lively), 99th House District (Merrifield), 53rd House District (Vienna), 35th House District (Blacksburg), 12th House District (Alexandria), 43rd House District (Charlottesville), 57th House District (Lynchburg), 23rd House District (McLean), 34th House District (Hampton), 92nd House District (Roanoke), 11th House District (Annandale), 39th House District 2 CONSERVATION SCORECARD 2008 VIRGINIA LEAGUE of CONSERVATION VOTERS 3 40 delegates and one senator are began the Scorecard in 2000. 2008 Top Quartile: Average Annual Scores Score of 75% to 99% on the list. Legislators in the Top Cumulative scores are found by Quartile list and those who patroned House Senate dividing the number of “right” votes Senate Party Dist. Score conservation bills deserve recognition by the total number of possible and thanks as well. 2000 51% 47% votes that legislator has been able Barker D 39 88 2001 54% 57% to cast during his or her legislative Colgan D 29 88 Our legislators will be much more 2002 59% 45% career. is careful process allows Deeds D 25 89 likely to respond favorably to future the Conservation Scorecard to give requests if you take a moment now 2003 55% 30% a clear picture of a legislator’s long- Edwards D 21 89 to let them know you value their past 2004 47% 59% term performance. Herring D 33 89 eff orts, especially on tough issues. 2005 40% 42% Howell, J. D 32 75 And it’s even more important that 2006 56% 54% Remember that we must not you let your legislators know you permanently chastise legislators for Locke D 2 89 2007 73% 55% Marsh D 16 75 read the Conservation Scorecard their poor performance—we believe and care about their performance on 2008 73% 68% in “conservation salvation.” Every By picking up this Scorecard, you’ve taken an important step toward protecting McEachin D 9 78 conservation issues. If your legislators legislator has room for improvement Virginia’s environment. Knowing how your legislators vote on key bills is a key Miller, J. D 1 75 appeared in the Bottom Quartile, and we should be supportive, step toward holding them accountable and making conservation a top priority Miller, Y. D 5 86 they especially need to hear from you! encouraging them each session. And Notable Number in Virginia government. Our annual Conservation Scorecard records the most Northam D 6 88 Write an email, make a phone call, or send a letter letting them know that you we must also not take legislators’ important conservation votes of each legislative year and is distributed to VALCV saw their score and you want them to improve it! ese legislators need to know good performance for granted—they Petersen D 34 89 members, Virginia environmental organizations, elected offi cials at every level, and that you are watching their actions, you know their votes, and that they should still need to hear our message from the news media. Now in its ninth year, the Conservation Scorecard has become the Puckett D 38 75 join us in caring about environmental issues. You may even fi nd that by providing conservation-minded constituents. authoritative source on Virginia’s environmental politics. Puller D 36 89 additional information on these issues, you could make a crucial diff erence in their Reynolds D 20 78 votes next time! 4 As a legislative watchdog, VALCV tracks voting records on key environmental, Saslaw D 35 75 growth and funding proposals in the General Assembly. During each session How the Scorecard Votes Were Chosen Stuart R 28 78 we work hard to make sure legislators hear loud and clear from the conservation Number of Senators who voters in their districts. en at session’s end we publish this Conservation Ticer D 30 89 VALCV advocates for a wide spectrum of conservation initiatives while Scorecard to help voters distinguish between the rhetoric and the reality of a Vogel R 27 89 opposing ill-conceived legislation that takes Virginia’s environmental 2007 Bottom Quartile: voted against a bill that Score of 25% or Lower lawmaker’s record. Whipple D 31 78 protections backward. We create this annual Conservation Scorecard to illustrate the performance of our elected offi cials during the legislative session Senate Party Dist. Score would move Virginia It’s Not Too Late To Say Thanks! (…Or No Thanks!) House Party Dist. Score on bills that have an impact on conservation issues. Experts from Virginia’s Hurt R 19 25 Amundson D 44 88 conservation organizations make recommendations to VALCV on which votes McDougle R 4 25 toward mining uranium. How did your legislators do this session? e 2008 session has passed and the Armstrong D 10 86 should be included. If a vote does not illustrate a clear distinction between those 2009 session will be gearing up, with many more conservation bills for your who support the conservation position and those who do not, often that vote Wampler R 40 14 Fralin R 17 78 legislators to consider. Use the legislative district maps and directory listed at the is not included as a Scorecard vote. is is a natural limitation of a Scorecard House Party Dist. Score back of the Scorecard to identify and contact your delegate and senator. If you Hugo R 40 75 that is particularly visible in years when there are few signifi cant conservation can’t tell where your district is, you can use the “Who’s My Legislator” utility on Phillips D 2 83 initiatives.