Maryland's Low Ratings Result of Pro-Environmental Legislature
Texas: Conservation group hands out grades to lawmakers
Texas: Conservation group hands out grades to lawmakers
Conservation group hands out grades to lawmakers
AUSTIN -- The Texas League of Conservation Voters handed out report cards to state lawmakers Tuesday, and the average score for those representing the Tarrant County area was 47.7 percent -- an F.
The league said its grades were based on key conservation votes during this year's legislative session.
"There were numerous missed opportunities to fix dirty power plant permitting, address climate change and secure a cleaner more sustainable energy future for Texas," the environmental group said in a statement.
Texas House
The league reviewed 27 votes, including those relating to diesel emissions, the creation of coal plants and parks funding. The organization said the votes fell largely along party lines, and that Democrats typically outscored Republicans.
The average House score was 56 percent, according to the organization. It said the average Republican score was 32 percent and the average Democratic score was 84 percent.
State Rep. Kirk England of Grand Prairie garnered the highest score among Republicans. England announced last week that he is switching parties.
Texas Senate
The director of Texas League of Conservation Voters said there were not enough votes with which the organization could create a report card for Texas senators. But he said a review of a handful of votes in that chamber showed a mixed record for lawmakers representing Tarrant County.
Chris Harris, R-Arlington: Criticized for voting against Senate Bill 529, which would have authorized spending on cleaning up emissions from school buses. Praised for voting for Senate Bill 1687 that called for studying state strategies for combating global warming.
Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth: Mentioned as a "notable" for his support of legislation to rein in air pollution from cement kilns.
Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville: Criticized for voting against Senate Bill 1924. The league said the bill would have required regulators to post information online about areas of the state with unsafe pollution.
The Big Three
The organization did not release a report card for the "big three" of state government -- Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland, all Republicans. However, a review of their actions during the 2007 legislative session showed "trouble at the top," according to the organization.
An official in Perry's office said the governor stands behind his environmental record.
"The governor is a strong advocate of protecting the Texas environment, while also taking in consideration realistic approaches to reducing emissions and improving air quality," spokeswoman Krista Moody said.
A spokesman for Craddick enumerated various bills adopted by the House that the spokesman said benefited the environment. Among those bills, according to the spokesman, was one that called for regulators to study energy-efficiency programs, and another to encourage the creation of an experimental clean-burning coal plant in Texas.
Dewhurst, in a prepared statement, noted his involvement in legislation to improve water conservation, to reduce emissions from diesel engines, and to encourage people to replace older, high-emission cars.
"The Texas League of Conservation Voters swung and missed," he said. "I pride myself on being a conservationist, protecting our land, our waters and our air."
Online: See the complete report at www.tlcv.org
How local House members fared
|
Representative
|
Percentage
|
Grade
|
|
Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth
|
100
|
A+
|
|
Kirk England, D-Grand Prairie*
|
69
|
B*
|
|
Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth
|
31
|
F
|
|
Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills
|
28
|
F
|
|
Phil King, R-Weatherford
|
32
|
F
|
|
Anna Mowery, R-Fort Worth
|
37
|
D
|
|
Rob Orr, R-Burleson
|
26
|
F
|
|
Diane Patrick, R-Arlington
|
30
|
F
|
|
Paula Pierson, D-Arlington
|
95
|
A+
|
|
Todd Smith, R-Euless
|
26
|
F
|
|
Vicki Truitt, R-Keller
|
23
|
F
|
|
Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth
|
96
|
A+
|
|
Bill Zedler, R-Arlington
|
27
|
F
|
*England was a Republican at the time of the survey.
