Sierra Club Scorecard Names Shelby, Utica Legislators ‘Pollution Promoters’

Casting "no" votes on nearly all legislation considered “pro-environment” by the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Shelby Township and Utica’s state legislators have been labeled “pollution promoters” by the club’s recently released 2011-12 legislative scorecard.

Released annually, the scorecard’s results are based upon roll call votes on specific bills in the House and Senate during a given legislative session.

For the 2011-12 scorecard, the Sierra Club calculated the votes cast on 24 bills dealing with a variety of environmental issues, from light bulbs and beach grooming to wolf hunting season and a regional transit authority.  

“2011-2012 was by far the most anti-environmental legislature we’ve had in Michigan for decades. It’s extremely frustrating that the environment has become a partisan political issue,” said Mike Berkowitz, the Michigan Legislative Director for the Sierra Club, in a prepared statement.

While both the House and Senate received a failing grade, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter says the scorecard “generally showed that Democrats voted to maintain or strengthen environmental protections [where] Republicans generally voted to weaken or eliminate environmental protections.”

All four of Shelby Township and Utica’s Republican state legislators scored below 25 percent, earning them the title of “Pollution Promoter” by Sierra Club standards.

• Sen. Tory Rocca (District 10) – 22 percent
• Sen. Jack Brandenburg (District 11) – 13 percent
• Reps. Peter Lund (District 26) – 21 percent
• Jeff Farrington (District 30) – 17 percent

“Why does our legislature have the wrong priorities when it comes to protecting Michigan’s environment?” said James D’Amour, the Michigan Sierra Club’s Vice Political Chair, in a prepared statement. “Clean air and clean water should not be partisan issues. We used to be leaders in making conservation a top priority, but not anymore. The new direction of the GOP is disappointing and disheartening for Republicans like me who care about the environment.”

According to the scorecard, House Democrats scored an average of 83 percent, while House Republicans scored an average of 24 percent. Senate Democrats scored an average of 96 percent, while Senate Republicans scored an average of 24 percent. Nine lawmakers scored a perfect 100 percent.

Check out the full scorecard here.