Lawmakers hot and cold on Environmental Voters' scorecard
BOSTON -- The Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters recently released its 2006 Environmental Scorecard, listing Sen. Bruce Tarr lowest among senators representing communities in the Greater Lowell region.
Tarr, a Gloucester Republican whose district includes Wilmington, received a voting score of 60 out of a possible 100 by the environmental group. Tarr said his ranking reflects votes he took in support of Gov. Mitt Romney's budget overrides, which the senator said balanced environmental issues with fiscal responsibility.
Rep. Rep. Robert Hargraves, a Republican from Groton, easily had the lowest rating from the group, with a voting score of 36.
Lora Wondolowski, executive director of the environmental advocacy group, hailed the recently concluded legislative session as "one of the best sessions in the last six years" at a Statehouse press conference.
Among the victories Wondolowski cited were new laws to eliminate mercury and other toxics from the environment, a bill setting energy efficiency standards for appliances, and the rejection of a liquefied natural gas terminal on Outer Brewster Island in Boston Harbor.
State senators were rated based on their votes on 10 pieces of legislation.
Sen. Pam Resor, D-Acton and Sen. Susan Tucker, D-Andover, received perfect scores of 100. Resor was also added to the group's honor roll for her efforts to move key environmental bills out of committee. The average score received by senators was 82.
State representatives were evaluated based on 14 votes. Reps. Cory Atkins, D-Concord and James Eldridge, D-Acton received scores of 93, the highest among local representatives.
The average score received by representatives was 70.
Though the League of Environmental Voters is nonpartisan, the scores showed a wide split between Democrats and Republicans. In the House, the average Democrat scored 75 while the Republican average was 36. In the Senate, Democrats averaged 88 and Republicans 48.
Jim Gomes, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, a separate group from the League of Voters, cautioned that commitment to the environment cannot be reduced to a number.
"The Massachusetts Legislature is not Lake Wobegon. All the legislators are not above average," he said. "The number is a helpful indication but it's important for people to learn more about what their legislators are doing quite apart whether their score is a 72 or 92."
Other area senators received the following scores: Sen. Susan Fargo, D-Lincoln, 90; Sen. Bob Havern, D-Arlington, 90; and Sen. Steve Panagiotakos, D-Lowell, 80.
Other area representatives received the following scores: Rep. Charles Murphy, D-Burlington, 82; Rep. Bill Greene, D-Billerica, 79; Rep. Jim Miceli, D-Wilmington, 77; Rep. Geoffrey Hall, D-Westford, 71; Rep. David Nangle, D-Lowell, 64; Rep. Kevin Murphy, D-Lowell, 64; Rep. Tom Golden, D-Lowell, 64; Rep. Colleen Garry, D-Dracut, 64.