OLCV Releases 2011 Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon Legislature

October 13, 2011

 

Contact: 503-224-4011

 

 

(PORTLAND) – Today the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV) released its 2011 Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon Legislature online at olcv.org/scorecard. 

 

OLCV’s 2011 Environmental Scorecard scores 17 environmental votes from Oregon’s 2011 Legislative Session, including Oregon Conservation Network’s declared Priorities, Major Threats, and other bills. The Scorecard also makes note of good and bad bills that died during the session in its “Bill Graveyard” section. 

 

“Oregonians care about our state’s natural heritage and the importance of creating a more sustainable, prosperous energy future,” said Charlie Burr, OLCV PAC Board Chair. “With OLCV’s Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon Legislature, Oregonians can see how their legislators voted on clean air, water and other critical environmental protections during the 2011 legislative session. An important part of passing environmental priorities is making sure citizens know the score.”

 

 

While 2011 was a good year for the environment in Oregon overall, it could have been both significantly better and much worse. 

 

Although OLCV and our partners in the Oregon Conservation Network successfully worked to pass critical priorities like modernizing Oregon’s landmark Bottle Bill and the “Cool Schools” program, we saw other top priorities go down in defeat, including banning the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in children’s products and banning single-use plastic bags across Oregon. OLCV also was forced to play tough defense, fighting back 19 major environmental threats and more than a hundred anti-environment bills.

 

By the numbers, Oregon’s Senate was the stronger legislative chamber in 2011. The Senate averaged a full ten percent higher than their House colleagues on OLCV’s 2011 Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon Legislature (81 percent to 70 percent), and whereas eighteen Senators received scores of 90 percent or higher, only eight Representatives achieved this honor. At the same time, eight legislators – five Senators and three Representatives – distinguished themselves by receiving perfect scores. Only six legislators scored below 50 percent. 

 

“While we were pleased with the victories we had and the bipartisan support of many pro-environment bills, the 2011 session also was challenging for environmental progress,” said OLCV Legislative Director Meredith Shield. “Many good bills succeeded, but many more failed to make it to the floor. It begs an important question: Would some legislator’s scores be as high if they had had to vote on bills that were instead killed in committees and by procedural maneuvers?”

 

Several legislators were recognized for their dedication to Oregon’s environment, including Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), who was named OLCV’s 2011 Environmental Champion of the Year. Overall, six Democrats and three Republicans received awards for their legislative service to Oregon’s environment. 

 

Visit olcv.org/scorecard to get the scores for all Oregon state Senators and Representatives, a full list of award recipients, and for more analysis on the 2011 legislative session. 

 

 

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters passes laws that protect our natural legacy, elects pro-environment candidates, and holds all of our elected officials accountable.

 

The Oregon Conservation Network (OCN) is coordinated by OLCV's Education Fund and is made up of more than 50 Oregon conservation organizations work together in the Oregon Legislature on shared Priorities for a Healthy Oregon, and who identify Major Threats and critical Priorities for our environment before the legislature. OCN is powered by the thousands of Oregonians who belong to its member organizations.

 

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