Press Release
February 26, 2019
CONTACT:
Andy Kelley – (510)844-0229
[email protected]
CLCV Scorecard Reveals Strong Legislative Leadership and Key Opportunity for New Administration
With 100 percent scores from Senate Pro Tem, Assembly Speaker, and key committee leaders, California Environmental Scorecard signals key opportunity for bold leadership from the Newsom Administration and Legislature.
Oakland, CA – The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), announced today the release of its annual California Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard reveals how members of the state legislature and Governor Jerry Brown performed in 2018 on the most important environmental and public health bills.
“We need bolder action than ever before to transform our economy and challenge what is possible. With legislative leaders in both houses – and a majority of state Senators – earning 100% scores, the Newsom Administration and legislature have a unique opportunity to meet the unprecedented moment our world is facing with 12 short years to act,” said Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer of CLCV.
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report from the United Nation’s has made it clear we have just 12 short years left to avoid climate catastrophes. And this past legislative session, California’s lawmakers made it clear they are prepared to rise to the occasion and double down.
Members of the California legislature were graded for the 2018 scorecard on their responses to 19 pieces of key legislation, then given a percentage score for their pro-environmental actions. This year, 47 legislators, including 21 State Senators– the majority of the chamber — and 26 state Assembly members, received a perfect score of 100%. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon scored 100%, and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins scored 100% as well. Governor Jerry Brown scored 80%.
Analysis of these scores presents a unique opportunity for California to aggressively tackle the transitions needed in our energy, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure to beat the clock on climate change.
Notable scores
Though the Democratic caucus continues to score far higher than their Republican peers, there are notable exceptions:
Republican Asm. Catharine Baker (R-Walnut Creek) and then Republican Asm. Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego) both scored 67%, matching low scoring Democrats: Asm. Tom Daly (AD 69), Asm. Tim Grayson (AD 14), Asm. Freddie Rodriguez (AD 52) and Asm. Blanca Rubio (AD 48).
Five Democratic Assemblymembers scored lower than their GOP counterparts: Asm. Ken Cooley (61%), Asm. Jim Frazier (44%), Asm. Rudy Salas (44%), Asm. Jim Cooper (39%), and Asm. Adam Gray (33%) A breakdown of their votes can be found here.
Environmental Victories in Sacramento
A dozen priority bills were signed into law in 2018, setting into motion California’s 100% renewable energy standard, expanding protections for endangered species, and creating measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change and better prepare our communities for drought.
“2018 was a banner year for our environment, securing California’s place as a world leader in the fight against climate change,” said Mike Young, Political and Organizing Director of CLCV. “This session, California lawmakers demonstrated they won’t only defend the progress we’ve made, but that they will continue to enact bold new policies. CLCV looks forward to working with the Newsom Administration to make this vision for bold action a reality.”
To learn more about each legislators’ score and see how they voted on key environmental legislation, visit ecovote.org/scorecard.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
