24 legislators earn 100%, 2 earn 0% on Environment Texas scorecard

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Environment Texas

AUSTIN –Twenty four legislators earned 100% ratings and two earned scores of 0% this past legislative session, according to Environment Texas’ 2015 Legislative Scorecard.

“We won some, we lost some,” said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas. “This session saw some major setbacks for the environment, with the Legislature weakening local control on fracking and the ability of citizens and cities to fight pollution. But there were also some bright spots, with parks funding increased, fines for illegal dumping doubled, and a modest chemical safety measure adopted. And attacks on renewable energy, high speed rail, and local plastic bag bans were defeated.”

“I’m very grateful to the legislators who proved themselves champions for the environment this session – working tirelessly in committee and on the floor and voting time and time again to put public health ahead of polluters’ interests.

Environment Texas tracked a total of ten votes in the House and Senate, including the protection of ecologically important rivers, a climate planning initiative, chemical safety requirements, citizen rights in environmental permitting processes, and whether or not to continue the successful renewable energy program in the state.

Overall the average score of Senators was 56% and the House was 59%. Representatives Jonathan Stickland (R – Bedford) and Matt Rinaldi (R- Irving) had the worst environmental voting record in the House, earning a score of 0 percent, while Senators Paul Bettencourt, Konni Burton, and Brandon Creighton earned that chamber’s lowest scores, taking the pro-environment position just 25 percent of the time.

Texas Representatives voting to protect the environment 100% of the time were: Reps. Roberto Alonzo, Rafael Anchia, César Blanco, Terry Canales, Nicole Collier, Jessica Farrar, Helen Giddings, Mary González, Donna Howard, Celia Israel, Eric Johnson, Trey Martinez Fischer, Borris Miles, Joe Moody, Elliott Naishtat, Eddie Rodriguez, Justin Rodriguez, Chris Turner, and Sylvester Turner

Senators Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso), Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston), Kirk Watson (D – Austin) and Royce West (D – Dallas) voted for major environmental issues 100 percent of the time.

“Our scorecards help Texans know which legislators are standing up for clean air and water and which are siding with big polluters against our health,” concluded Metzger.

Environment Texas’s scorecards for 2015 and previous years are available online at http://environmenttexas.org/page/txe/legislative-scorecards

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Environment Texas is a grassroots advocate for clean air, clean water and open spaces.