WLCV Scorecard 2010 Cover 6/4/10 1:00 PM Page 1 CONSERVATION SCORECARD 2009-2010 for the Wisconsin Legislature WLCV Scorecard 2010 Cover 6/4/10 1:00 PM Page 2 Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters extends a special thank you and congratulations to this year’s Conservation Champions.* SENATORS John Lehman Judy Robson Robert Wirch REPRESENTATIVES Peter Barca Louis Molepske, Jr. Chuck Benedict Tom Nelson Terese Berceau Joe Parisi Penny Bernard Schaber Sandy Pasch Spencer Black Mark Pocan Fred Clark Sondy Pope-Roberts Pedro Colón Jon Richards David Cullen Kelda Helen Roys Kristen Dexter Donna Seidel Tamara Grigsby Mike Sheridan Gary Hebl Gary Sherman Steve Hilgenberg Jennifer Shilling Gordon Hintz Christine Sinicki Ann Hraychuck Jeff Smith Mary Hubler James Soletski Andy Jorgensen Tony Staskunas Dean Kaufert Barbara Toles Cory Mason Terry Van Akkeren Nick Milroy Annette Williams *Conservation Champions are legislators that received a perfect 100 percent. CONSERVATION SCORECARD 2009-2010 for the Wisconsin Legislature TABLE OF CONTENTS WLCV Board Members, Advisory Council Members, Contact Information . 2 Introduction . 3 Bill Descriptions............................................................................. 4 Charts of Legislative Scores . 8 Map of State Assembly Scores . 14 Map of State Senate Scores. 15 Conservation Honor and Dishonor Rolls . 16 WLCV Board Members Who Are Your Legislators? Lynn Broaddus, Wauw atosa Not sure who your state legislators are? Visit our website at http://www.conservationvoters.org/districts Ann Brodek, Wind Point or call (800) 362-9472. Dan Collins, President, Mequon Stan Gruszynski, Porterfield Roger Larson, Madison About Wisconsin League of Thomas Miller, Waupaca Conservation Voters Chris Noyes, Whitefish Bay Leonard Sobczak, Milwaukee Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, Tom Thoresen, Fitchburg nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing Rob Zerban, Kenosha conservation leaders to the state legislature and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin’s public Advisory Council Members health and natural resources. In pursuit of its mission, Wisconsin League of Organizations and affiliations are listed for identification Conservation Voters holds legislators accountable to purposes only. their votes and engages in voter education, lobbying and issue advocacy. WLCV also recruits candidates, Biko Robert Baker, Milwaukee issues candidate endorsements and actively works for • League of Young Voters Education Fund, the election of candidates committed to strong and Executive Director effective conservation policies. Laura DeGolier, Fond du Lac To learn more about the Wisconsin League of • Park Watch of Fond du Lac, Chair Conservation Voters or to view the Conservation Scorecard 2009-2010, visit William Lynch, Milwaukee http://conservationvoters.org/scorecard/10 • Preserve our Parks, Board Member • Midwest Environmental Advocates, Board Member Further details for each bill can be found online: http:// • Center for Resilient Cities www.conservationvoters.org/Public/voteTracker.php N eil Peters-Michaud, Middlen to • Cascade Asset Management, Founder and CEO Contact Information Jennifer Nelson, Stuben Madison • Crawford Stewardship Project 133 S. Butler Street, #320 • The Kickapoo Institute Madison, WI 53703 • Wisconsin Rural Sustainability Network 608-661-0845 608-661-0835 (fax) Wayne Schroeder, Grand Chute [email protected] • N.E.W. Outdoors Inc. www.conservationvoters.org Kelly Westlund, Ashland Green Bay • Alliance of Sustainability, Executive Director 1642 Western Avenue Green Bay, WI 54303 Eleanor Wolf, Eau Claire 920-429-9008 • Chippewa Valley Group, Sierra Club, Treasurer • Lower Chippewa River Alliance, Chair Eau Claire 1128 First Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54703 715-835-4248 Milwaukee 1845 N. Farwell Avenue #100 Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-224-1696 2 WISCONSIN LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INTRODUCTION The C onservation Scorecard 2009-2010 is your guide to how Wisconsin state legislators voted on key conservation issues during the past legislative session. Purpose of the Conservation Scorecard The goal of the Scorecard is to provide objective, factual information about the voting records of Wisconsin’s state 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. Summary of the Legislative Session Despite a tough economic climate that overshadowed many legislative actions, there are numerous examples of conservation successes from the 2009-2010 legislative session. There were many pro-conservation bills passed with bi-partisan support, including several that had been introduced but never successfully adopted in past legislative sessions – bills that will reduce phosphorus run-off into our lakes, ensure that electronics are recycled, and implement youth mentored hunting. That said, the legislature missed opportunities this session to tackle the biggest issues selected by the conservation community – the issues included in the Conservation Priority Agenda. The failure of the legislature to meaningfully address climate change, to protect our groundwater and drinking water, and to override Governor Doyle’s veto of the independent Department of Natural Resources Secretary were particularly disappointing. How the Conservation Scorecard is Prepared Throughout each of the Wisconsin Legislature’s two-year sessions, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters tracks each and every conservation bill. This Conservation Scorecard 2009-2010 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, business and community leaders – recommended which votes to score. The Board of Directors of Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters made the final decision. Where You Come In Conservation has no political party. 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 2009-2010 to get the information you need to become an educated conservation voter. Conservation Scorecard 2009-2010 • conservationvoters.org 3 BILL DESCRIPTIONS Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters tracks every important conservation bill as it moves through the legislative process. To learn more about these bills and view their complete history, please visit the Conservation Voter Tracker at http://www.conservationvoters.org/Public/voteTracker.php AB 3: Phosphorus AB 138: Independent AB 139: Littering Runoff from phosphorus in lawn fertilizers DNR Secretary Large waste items, such as furniture and leads to increased pollution and algae in our Conservation Priority appliances, are sometimes abandoned in lakes. AB 3 prohibits the sale and residential common spaces. AB 139 creates a greater application of fertilizer containing In 1995, the Secretary of the Department of disincentive to litter by increasing the phosphorus to turf in Wisconsin except in Natural Resources (DNR) became a political fines for those who choose to violate certain circumstances. appointee of the Governor. AB 138 would littering laws. have restored integrity to natural resource Pro-Conservation Vote: YES Pro-Conservation Vote: YES management by allowing the Natural Status Resources Board to select the DNR Secretary Status •Passed the Assembly. once again. •Passed the Assembly. •Passed the Senate. Pro-Conservation Vote: YES •Passed the Senate. •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. Status •Passed the Assembly. •Passed the Senate. AB 43: Wild Rivers •Vetoed by Governor Doyle. AB 258: Motor Oil Recycling Pristine, free-flowing rivers provide unique Used oil filters contain motor oil that is recreational and aesthetic value as well as AB 138: Independent DNR often contaminated with heavy metals and critical habitat. However, until now, only chemical additives. When disposed of in three Wisconsin rivers have been preserved Secretary Veto Override. landfills they can leach toxic materials into since the Wisconsin’s Wild Rivers Act was Conservation Priority our groundwater. AB 258 requires used oil adopted over forty years ago. AB 43 On November 13, 2009, Governor Doyle filters and materials used to soak up used designates portions of the Totogatic River as vetoed AB 138, which would allow the motor oil to be recycled rather than thrown a Wild River, thereby preserving it for future Department of Natural Resources (DNR) into our landfills. generations to enjoy. Board to appoint the DNR Secretary. This Pro-Conservation Vote: YES Pro-Conservation Vote: YES vote would have overridden the Governor’s Status Status veto, allowing AB 138 to become law. •Passed the Assembly. •Passed the Assembly. Pro-Conservation Vote: YES •Passed the Senate. •Passed the Senate. Status •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. •Signed into law by Governor Doyle. •Veto override of AB 138 failed in the Assembly. AB 281: Phosphorus Phosphorus in cleaning products contributes to greater pollution in our waters. Current law only allows small amounts of phosphorus in most household cleaning products. However, dishwashing detergent was exempted from these limits and can have up to seventeen times more phosphorus