Climate obstruction, coal ash cleanup highlight fast-paced session
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Contact:
Lee Francis | Deputy Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org
RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters released its 2019 General Assembly Conservation Scorecard, the only comprehensive tool for voters in Virginia to see whether their lawmakers are prioritizing the environment when they’re in Richmond.
The votes scored in this year’s scorecard cover a wide range of issues important to conservation causes in Virginia, everything from climate action, clean energy policy and protecting water quality, to transportation, land use, open space preservation and redistricting reform. Overall, this year’s legislator scores reflect votes cast on 20 bills in the House of Delegates and 15 pieces of legislation in the Senate.
In addition to the vote tallies, the Scorecard takes a deep dive into policy analysis and the politics that framed the 2019 session, including a look at the February controversies that engulfed Richmond and how they will impact Virginia LCV’s work going forward.
“We made serious gains for our environment in 2019, including the passage of landmark legislation eliminating the threat of toxic coal ash throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Unfortunately, we also saw big setbacks when it comes to addressing our largest environmental threat – climate change,” said Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV. “Virginians shouldn’t have to choose between clean water and clean air – we deserve both. With all 140 seat up for grabs this fall, we will be working in 2019 to ensure the next General Assembly takes the climate crisis seriously and acts to protect our environment for all Virginians.”
The Scorecard helps hold lawmakers accountable when they fail to vote on the right side of conservation, and also showcases the many delegates and state senators who have prioritized our environment and have the strong voting record to prove it.
Overall, 49 legislators (11 state senators and 38 delegates) earned a perfect 100 percent voting record, giving them the designation of “Legislative Hero” for 2019.
Virginia LCV 2019 Legislative Heroes
Senator George Barker
Senator Jennifer Boysko
Senator Creigh Deeds
Senator Barbara Favola
Senator Janet Howell
Senator Mamie Locke
Senator Dave Marsden
Senator Monty Mason
Senator Jennifer McClellan
Senator Jeremy McPike
Senator Dick Saslaw
Delegate Dawn Adams
Delegate Lashrecse Aird
Delegate Hala Ayala
Delegate Lamont Bagby
Delegate John Bell
Delegate Jeffrey Bourne
Delegate David Bulova
Delegate Betsy Carr
Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy
Delegate Lee Carter
Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler
Delegate Karrie Delaney
Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn
Delegate Wendy Gooditis
Delegate Elizabeth Guzman
Delegate Cliff Hayes
Delegate Charniele Herring
Delegate Patrick Hope
Delegate Chris Hurst
Delegate Jay Jones
Delegate Kaye Kory
Delegate Paul Krizek
Delegate Mark Levine
Delegate Alfonso Lopez
Delegate Michael Mullin
Delegate Kathleen Murphy
Delegate Cia Price
Delegate David Reid
Delegate Debra Rodman
Delegate Danica Roem
Delegate Mark Sickles
Delegate Mark Simon
Delegate Rip Sullivan
Delegate David Toscano
Delegate Kathy Tran
Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg
Delegate Jeion Ward
Delegate Vivian Watts
Another 10 delegates and eight state senators earned scores between 75 and 99 percent, making them Legislative Leaders for 2019.
Virginia LCV 2019 Legislative Leaders
Senator Rosalyn Dance
Senator Adam Ebbin
Senator John Edwards
Senator Lynwood Lewis
Senator Louise Lucas
Senator Chap Petersen
Senator Lionell Spruill
Senator Scott Surovell
Delegate Steve Heretick
Delegate Matthew James
Delegate Mark Keam
Delegate Joseph Lindsey
Delegate Delores McQuinn
Delegate Ken Plum
Delegate Sam Rasoul
Delegate Luke Torian
Delegate Cheryl Turpin
Delegate Roslyn Tyler
In addition to these honors, Virginia LCV recognized four lawmakers for their individual leadership on the environment with 2019 Legislative Leadership Awards: Delegate Karrie Delaney, Delegate Charniele Herring, Delegate Lee Ware and Senator Jennifer McClellan.
At-a-glance legislator scores can be found here. The full 2019 Conservation Scorecard is accessible here.
About us:
Established in 2000, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
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