Environmental group gives local reps. top scores

September 16, 2011

AUGUSTA – The non-partisan Maine Conservation Voters gave Reps. Andrea Boland and John Tuttle, both Sanford Democrats, high marks for their votes to protect the environment during the first session of the 125th Legislature. The representatives earned a “4 out of 4” and “3 out of 4” respectively on the bills tracked.

“The environment is such an important part of Maine and so vital to our economy,” said Boland. “It doesn’t make sense not to protect it. I’m pleased that we have been able to pass some good environmental legislation especially in the face of the extreme rollbacks that have been proposed by the new administration in Augusta.”

“Maine is famous for our beautiful rivers, mountains, lakes and coastline,” said Tuttle. “We must continue to work to protect and preserve our environment so that Maine will have a brighter economic future.”

Legislators were graded on their votes regarding energy efficiency, clean water, children’s health, wildlife and the North Woods. The Maine Conservation Voters 2011 scorecard measured votes on some of the most significant environmental issues passed this year:

• Children’s Health: LD 412 voting to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food and beverage containers, like baby bottles and sippy cups;
• Children’s Health: LD 228 voting against the repeal of Maine’s pesticide spraying notification law;
• Energy Efficiency: LD 1416 voting against weakening the statewide uniform building and energy efficiency code;
• North Woods: LD 1534 voting against establishing a biased study committee to eliminate the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), the state agency charged with conserving Maine’s vast North Woods.

In past years, MCV scorecards have been used to showcase votes that furthered protections for Maine’s environment, which is central to the state’s economic brand. This year, the scorecard evaluated votes against an anti-environment agenda advanced by certain Republican lawmakers and Governor Paul LePage.

View the full scorecard on the web site for Maine Conservation Voters.

Contact:

Jodi Quintero [Boland, Tuttle], 287-1488, c. 841-6279