Bipartisan advocates for smart, sustainable environmental policies in Connecticut



Monday, November 17, 2008

Working on Clean Energy for Norwich

CTLCV Board member David Anderson will be nagwagging in Norwich tonight, advocating for cost-savings through clean energy and reducing consumption through efficiency measures.

After all, the cleanest kilowatt is one you don’t have to produce. Read more at Norwich: City Council to consider Cool Cities - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

CT LCV Legislative Scorecard on the Environment

Congratulations on a great scorecard presentation!

The only complaint seems to be from Democrats who got a lower score because they voted against the Governor's excellent plan to enhance and reveal the beauty of our beautiful state by removing commercial bill boards from State-owned properties.

Just because a good idea comes from the other side of the aisle doesn't mean that CTLCV won't score it!

Too often, it seems that Democrats have been making the important proposals for a better environment. CTLCV has been criticized for being too partisan, endorsing far more
Democrats than Republicans over the years. The sad truth is that in general Republicanx have not scored as well on important environemtal issues.

Scoring the billboard vote proves that good ideas will be supported by the environmental community no matter where they come from. Every legislator with good ideas to improve CT's environment is encouraged by CTLCV to bring them up, and to get recognition for a job well done.

Clean water, clean air and beautiful vistas don't have an R or a D attached!
David

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Save the Date: Annual Environmental Summit on Dec. 10

Save the Date!  CTLCV's Annual Environmental Summit is coming up on Wednesday, December 10, 2008, from 8:30 to 1:30 at the Boathouse in Hartford's Riverfront Park.

This is the event for advocates and legislators to connect on the environmental issues to be tackled in the upcoming legislative session.

This year’s conference will focus on linking environmental sustainability with economic development,  innovation, and investment.

 

We're pulling together a diverse panel of high level experts you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for more details! 

 

To RSVP, send a message to ctlcv@ctlcv.org with "RSVP" in the subject line, along with your name and organization in the body of the message.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Environment Comes Out Ahead in Connecticut Elections!

(Hartford, CT) – From the bipartisan perspective of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV), the scene at Connecticut’s gold dome looks promising for the 2009 legislative session. With 41 of CTLCV’s bipartisan slate of 46 endorsed candidates elected, the stage is set for even more enlightened environmental progress in the next legislative session, even under difficult economic circumstances.

“We know there are financial pressures, but legislators can enact plenty of smart environmental policies without a hefty price tag. It’s a matter of defining a pro-environment vision for the long term. We will be looking for environmental initiatives that dovetail with economic development. Good jobs and clean energy are both winners this election,” said Julie Belaga, Co-Chair of CTLCV’s Board of Directors.

CTLCV congratulates the winners of yesterday’s elections, from Barack Obama, who was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, CTLCV’s national counterpart, to Connecticut’s congressional delegation, to Connecticut General Assembly winners. “We look forward to working with both parties to make serious headway on putting smart, sustainable environmental policies into action for Connecticut,” Belaga added.

“We have high expectations for the candidates we endorsed and for the 2009 General Assembly overall. Knowing the passion and knowledge that so many of them bring to protecting our forests, farmland, air, waterways and wildlife, we doubt we’ll be disappointed,” said Belaga. CTLCV interviewed candidates and researched their positions extensively before awarding endorsements. (See www.ctlcv.org/survey for details on the environmental priorities of the candidates).

Two wins of special interest to CTLCV are those earned by challengers Michelle Cook (D-Torrington), who unseated Republican Ann Ruwet for the seat in House District 65, and Elizabeth Esty (D-Cheshire), who beat out incumbent Republican Al Adinfolfi for the seat in House District 103. Despite their freshman status, expect Cook and Esty to be quick studies and impressive forces for the environment.

Other fresh faces to watch include newcomers Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and Chris Coutu (R- Norwich). Lesser pulled off a tough fight to unseat incumbent Ray Kalinowski (R-Durham) in the 100th House District, as did Coutu against Jack Malone (D-Norwich) in the 47th House District. Like Cook and Esty, we’re betting on Lesser and Coutu as strong voices for the environment.

CTLCV also has high expectations for incoming State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-Canton), who moves from the House of Representatives to replace Thomas Herlihy (R-Simsbury) in the 8th Senate District. We are looking to Witkos to play the role of up and coming leader on the environment in the Republican caucus.

Belaga also announced that CTLCV will be keeping a close watch on the actual implementation of the environmental laws that were passed last year. “It’s all well and good to enact pro-environment laws, but execution is the name of the game. In recent years, Connecticut has not done that part so well.”

The League now calls for lawmakers to uphold environmental laws and lead responsibly on the Connecticut’s most urgent environmental challenges: developing transportation alternatives and mass transit; moving faster to a clean, renewable energy future; spurring innovative solutions for the world’s climate crisis; funding the Department of Environmental Protection; and preserving the “Face of Connecticut.” Election Results for CTLCV’s Bipartisan Slate of Endorsements*

Election Results for CTLCV’s Bipartisan Slate of Endorsements

Senate
John Fonfara (D-Hartford), Dist. 1 Won
Mary Ann Handley (D-Manchester), Dist. 4 Won
Jonathan Harris (D-West Hartford), Dist. 5 Won
Don DeFronzo (D-New Britain), Dist. 6 Won
Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Dist. 11 Uncontested race
Ed Meyer (D-Guilford), Dist. 12 Won
Gayle Slossberg (D-Milford), Dist. 14 Won
Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), Dist. 16 Won
Edith Prague (D-Columbia), Dist. 19 Uncontested race
Andrea Stillman (D-Waterford), Dist. 20 Won
Rob Russo (R-Bridgeport), Dist. 22 Lost
Andrew McDonald (D-Stamford), Dist. 27 Uncontested race
John McKinney (R-Southport), Dist. 28 Won
Donald Williams (D-Brooklyn), Dist. 29 Won
Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen), Dist. 30 Won

House of Representatives

Jason Bartlett (D-Bethel), Dist. 2 Pending*
Linda Schofield (D-Simsbury), Dist. 16 Won
Andrew Fleischmann (D-West Hartford), Dist. 18 Won
Beth Bye (D-West Hartford), Dist. 19 Won
David McCluskey (D-West Hartford), Dist. 20 Won
Demetrios Giannaros (D-Farmington), Dist. 21 Uncontested race
Eileen Baker (D-Old Saybrook), Dist. 23 Lost
Thomas Kehoe (D-South Glastonbury), Dist. 31 Won
James Spallone (D-Essex), Dist. 36 Won
Elizabeth Ritter (D-Quaker Hill), Dist. 38 Uncontested race
Elissa Wright (D-Noank), Dist. 41 Won
Diana Urban (D-North Stonington), Dist. 43 Won
Sherri Vogt (D-Brooklyn), Dist. 50 Lost
Bryan Hurlburt (D-Tolland), Dist.53 Won
Denise Merrill (D-Mansfield Center), Dist. 54 Uncontested race
Roberta Willis (D-Lakeville), Dist. 64 Uncontested race
Michelle Cook (D-Torrington), Dist. 65 Won
Mary Mushinsky (D-Wallingford), Dist. 85 Won
Steve Fontana (D-North Haven), Dist. 87 Won
Robert Megna (D-New Haven), Dist. 97 Uncontested race
Patricia Widlitz (D-Guilford), Dist. 98 Uncontested race
Ray Kalinowski (R-Durham), Dist. 100 Lost
Deb Heinrich (D-Madison), Dist. 101 Won
Lonnie Reed (D-Branford), Dist. 102 Uncontested race
Elizabeth Esty (D-Cheshire), Dist. 103 Won
John Frey (R-Ridgefield), Dist. 111 Won
Richard Roy (D-Milford), Dist. 119 Won
John Hetherington (R-New Canaan), Dist. 125 Uncontested race
Jack Hennessey (D-Bridgeport), Dist. 127 Uncontested race
Livvy Floren (R-Greenwich), Dist. 149 Uncontested race
Ed Krumeich (D-Riverside), Dist. 151 Lost

*Based on best data available as of 7 pm, 11/5/08