2014 Virginia General Assembly VIRGINIA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS Conservation Scorecard Conservation Scorecard 2014 | 2 Table of Contents P2 A Letter from the Virginia League Interim Executive Director P3 The Political Force for Conservation P5 2014 Legislative Heroes P6 2014 Legislative Leaders P7 Session Highlights and Scorecard Vote Key P14 House Scorecard P17 Senate Scorecard P19 House Districts Map P20 Senate Districts Map P21 Know the Score P22 The Importance of Bill Patrons 2014 Scorecard Acknowledgements Content: Emily Francis, Interim Executive Director Travis Blankenship, Legislative Assistant Blair Curcie, Legislative Intern Map Graphics: Commonwealth of Virginia, Division of Legislative Services Graphic Design: Michael Harl, DIALOGUE Front Cover Photo: Lazy Afternoon by Jean Fripp Courtesy of Scenic Virginia, ScenicVirginia.org Board of Directors John B. Jaske, Chair Carey Whitehead, Vice Chair Sam Bleicher Leslie Cheek, III John Grant Roy Hoagland Lori Keenan McGuinness Christopher G. Miller George L. Ohrstrom, II Jean Perin Dick Raines Rab Thompson Dear Conservation Voter, We welcomed many new faces to Medicaid expansion and its implica- Additionally, along with our partners, Richmond during the 2014 General tions on Virginia’s budget consumed a we were unable to secure common sense Assembly session. Along with Virginia’s significant part of the session, the special protections for ground and surface waters new Governor, Lieutenant Governor and session and the veto session. As of this against the many uncertainties of modern Attorney General, sixteen new Delegates writing, the debate continues and is still hydraulic fracking in the Tidewater Region walked the halls of the Capitol and two tied to ongoing budget negotiations. As a of the Commonwealth. We continue our new Senators joined the upper chamber result, funding levels for key land conser- efforts to educate elected officials on the this year. Virginia had a cascade of special vation programs remain uncertain. unintended consequences to our natural elections that moved legislators from Despite the contentious debate over landscape when appropriate safeguards one seat to another after the results of Medicaid expansion and the partisan are not maintained. nail-biting recounts were finalized. And power change in the Senate, conservation Throughout the rest of the year, we once the dust settled, a rare mid-session issues received strong bipartisan attention will keep a watchful eye on these issues, restructuring of committee assignments on several fronts. Bills encouraging the and others, so that we can continue to shifted control of the Senate to Democrats use of clean energy, improvements advocate for future policy improvements with new Lieutenant Governor Ralph to the Commonwealth’s Renewable that benefit our natural landscape. Thank Northam casting tie-breaking votes. Portfolio Standard, the repeal of the tax you for following the 2014 General We began the session with a on hybrid-electric vehicles, and increases Assembly session with us and for your conservation commitment from in transparency to Virginia’s transportation continued support of conservation. The Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe to veto processes were all well-received and work of the Virginia League is only made any legislation that would lift Virginia’s passed with bipartisan support. This possible because of you. Your involvement 31-year ban on uranium mining or even bipartisan cooperation continues to is vital to the success of our efforts as we hint at developing regulations for such a demonstrate that protecting our clean protect the Commonwealth’s precious and dangerous activity. This is a hard-earned air, clean water and open spaces is not a natural landscape. victory for citizens, businesses, and partisan issue, but rather important policy organizations statewide that understand we all can support. the long term economic risk to Virginians While we did see significant bipartisan is not worth the short term financial gains support on many proposals, our natural by Laura S. Dent | Courtesy of Scenic Virginia for a few private citizens. We applaud landscape unfortunately suffered defeat Emily Francis Governor McAuliffe for reaffirming his on a few very important policies. We were Interim Executive Director commitment to keeping the ban and to unable to maintain local land use authority Virginia League of Conservation Voters the tens of thousands of Virginians who for counties and towns to best manage Sunrise on Assateague helped make this victory possible. local agricultural operations. : CREDIT PHOTO Conservation Scorecard 2014 | 2 The Political Force for Conservation The Virginia League of Conservation Conservation Endorsements To actively engage residents in the Voters protects resources important to The Virginia League is one of the few protection of these important natural all Virginians: clean air and water, thriving organizations in the state that endorses resources, the Virginia Conservation communities and rural landscapes, and seeks to elect candidates to office. Network and the Virginia League of productive farms and forests, historic Along with the scores in our Conservation Conservation Voters Education Fund battlefields and Main Streets, and ample Scorecard, we conduct research, created the Conservation Action Team public lands and recreation. administer candidate questionnaires Program (formerly known as Legislative To do this, we secure good public and perform personal interviews to Contact Teams) in the fall of 2002. policies at the state level, hold elected determine which candidates deserve Action Teams are designed to officials accountable for their positions on our “conservation seal of approval.” recruit and train volunteers to serve conservation and endorse conservation- After being endorsed by our Board as conservation leaders in their local minded candidates for state level offices. of Directors, candidates are provided community. Program participants learn We are unique among Virginia’s conserva- with political field expertise and financial about important conservation topics, tion community in that we are the political backing. We educate conservation voters engage in activities that build support force for conservation at the State Capitol. about the best candidates and work hard for our environment, and speak directly to ensure our endorsed candidates win. to their legislators about preserving our Conservation Accountability natural landscape. The more our elected Conservation Advocacy Our annual Conservation Scorecard is officials hear from conservationists Once elections are final, Virginia League the only tool available to Virginians that in their districts, the better our staff and volunteers increase their advoca- demonstrates how our elected officials environment. cy activities on behalf of Virginia’s natural perform on behalf of our environment. To date, the Action Team Program landscape. We work to inform elected Knowing what happens in committee has trained thousands of volunteers to officials about the value and benefits of rooms and on the floor of both the House communicate effectively with elected conservation and to push forward sound and Senate chambers is critical information. leaders. Over 400 participants, in nearly conservation policy. We honor the best conservation legislators every House and Senate district, have There are two ways you can get for their hard work during the General been involved in advocacy efforts related involved in our advocacy efforts: Assembly and we shine a public spotlight on to the 2014 General Assembly Session. the remaining legislators who didn’t quite do 1) Conservation Action Teams Thanks to those outspoken individuals all enough. It is critical that you talk with your Our environment is better protected across Virginia, our conservation voice at elected officials about their scores included when residents all across the the Capitol is stronger than ever. in this Conservation Scorecard. Let them Commonwealth speak in favor of clean To join your local Action Team or for know our environment is worth preserving. air, clean water and open spaces. more information, visit valcvef.org. 3 | Virginia League of Conservation Voters 2) Conservation E-Action Action alerts from the Virginia League are a simple way to stay updated on what our decision makers are doing (or not doing) on behalf of conservation. At critical moments during the General Assembly session and throughout the year, we ask volunteers to take action. Those actions include sending emails, making phone calls and writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper; collectively they send a strong message to our elected officials that conservation is a priority. Please sign up for Conservation E-Action Alerts by visiting www.valcv.org. We will put you in touch with key decision makers on issues such as clean air and water, transportation, energy, land conservation and others. Keep an eye on valcv.org to read about our events and activities throughout the rest of the year. During the legislative session, you can always find our Conservation Bill Chart which lists important conservation bills moving through the General Assembly. Like the Virginia League at facebook.com/VirginiaLCV Follow us on Twitter @VirginiaLCV by Joseph Ring | Courtesy of Scenic Virginia Canal Walk : CREDIT PHOTO Conservation Scorecard 2014 | 4 2014 Legislative Senator Adam Ebbin Senator Barbara Favola Senator Janet Howell Senator Donald McEachin Delegate Robert Bloxom, Jr