Legislative Scorecard News

Only two of Pennsylvania’s state senators and thirteen of the Commonwealth’s 203 state representatives received an environmental score of 100% from the statewide environmental advocacy group PennEnvironment.

The scorecard was released today by PennEnvironment and included votes on major environmental legislation taken up by the state legislature in Harrisburg, as well as federal environmental bills voted on by Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation in Congress.

PennEnvironment is distributing its environmental scorecard to more than 100,000 households in Pennsylvania as part of its door-to-door and internet campaign to convince state officials to dramatically reduce global warming emissions in the Commonwealth. The scorecard and full descriptions of the votes may be found at www.PennEnvironment.org/scorecard.

“In order to protect and preserve Pennsylvania’s environment, we need our elected officials voting for the strongest environmental protections possible,” said PennEnvironment Director David Masur.  “These scorecards detail the environmental voting records of elected officials so that citizens can hold those officials accountable.”

PennEnvironment’s scorecard tracks environmental votes on issues including the funding of Pennsylvania’s conservation programs; promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy; protecting Pennsylvania’s open spaces; and funding Pennsylvania’s public transportation systems.

“PennEnvironment applauds state Representatives Josephs, Leach, Lentz, Roebuck, Rick Taylor and Vitali for being environmental heroes. They received scores of 100%, consistently voting to protect Pennsylvania’s environment and the public’s health,” said Masur.

"I am proud to have a strong record voting to protect our environment,” stated Rep. Lentz. “At this point in our nations' history to be an advocate for the environment is also to be an advocate for our national security and an improved economy for the working men and woman of our nation."

“Everyone should make preserving the environment a top issue and I’m proud to be honored for my 100% perfect score of environmental votes,” remarked Rep. Rick Taylor. “Along with my colleagues, I will continue to advocate and fight for environmentally-sound practices to preserve our Commonwealth and our Country.”

Statewide, 91 of the 203 members of the Pennsylvania state House scored 80% or above. Only seven of the fifty members of the Pennsylvania state Senate scored 80% or higher.

"Preserving our environment should be important to all people because of what it means for the future of our planet and our quality of life," said Josephs who is a committed recycler and uses mass transit rather than owning a car.  "I'm proud of my environmental record and I will continue to support legislation that is pro-environment. Meanwhile the Senate refuses to act on an important component of legislation to prevent electric rates from skyrocketing. Forget about air conditioning on those 90-plus-degree days; the price of electricity will be astronomical."

The average score for the Pennsylvania state Senate was 50%. The average score for the Pennsylvania state House was 62%.

"Of all I have accomplished in my tenure in the legislature, having a 100% pro-environment voting record is what I am most proud of,” stated Rep. Leach. “Protecting our planet and ensuring our children have clean air, clear water and a sustainable future is the single most important thing we can do. That my efforts in this regard have been recognized by the most important environmental watchdogs in our state is a source of enormous satisfaction for me and makes all the frustrations of my job worth it."

“PennEnvironment and Director David Masur are to be commended for their continuing efforts to raise awareness about the need to protect our air, water and the Earth we inhabit, noted Rep. Roebuck. “It’s a privilege to have been included among the ‘Green 6’from the Philadelphia area who have a 100% voting record in areas like clean energy and open space.”

“Our planet is at an environmental crossroad,” said Rep. Vitali.  “What we do now and in the upcoming years to protect it will affect the quality of life for generations to come.”

PennEnvironment also scored Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation and federal senators on environmental votes that took place in Congress.

“With the White House catering to polluters over the past eight years, it’s more critical than ever that Pennsylvania’s members of Congress are standing up for the environment,” continued Masur.  “Our scorecard looked at a number of recent votes in the U.S. House and Senate, including a variety of legislation dealing with energy issues, protecting our national forests and oceans, and tackling global warming.”

“We urge members of Pennsylvania’s congressional and state delegations to work to promote a new energy future, protect our threatened open spaces and family farms, and to tackle the problem of global warming,” stated Masur.

PennEnvironment is a statewide non-profit, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization.  PennEnvironment’s scorecard and a key to the votes scored can be viewed online at www.PennEnvironment.org/scorecard.