In the News
The Poughkeepsie Journal: Local Congress members tops on environment
February 23, 2010
By MICHAEL WOYTON
Four out of five local members of Congress got perfect scores on environmental votes in 2009, according to the League of Conservation Voters.
The 2009 National Environmental Scorecard examined 11 Senate votes and 13 House votes in the first session of the 111th Congress, including bills for clean energy, protecting public lands and clean water.
Reps. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, and Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, as well as Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer received grades of 100 percent for their votes.
Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, received a grade of 88 percent for the seven votes for which he was eligible to vote.
Murphy took office April 29, after he won an election to fill Gillibrand's vacant seat.
He voted for a bill that would have prohibited court-mandated protections for the Bay-Delta Estuary in California.
The league said a vote against the legislation was the pro-environment stand.
Josh Schwerin, Murphy's spokesman, said the congressman prides himself on working to protect the environment and has been an advocate for building a clean-energy economy.
"The one vote, about a complicated local issue in California, was an instance where his vote didn't happen to align with the League of Conservation Voters and the majority of his Democratic colleagues," Schwerin said.
Tiernan Sittenfeld, the league's legislative director, said the scorecard is not a political document.
"It provides a snapshot and a yardstick that can be used Congress-wide" to see how senators and representatives voted on important environmental legislation, she said.
Marcia Bystryn, the league's president, said New York lawmakers outperformed the average rankings.
"Both senators had 100 percent ratings," she said, "while the average was 64."
Likewise, the state congressional delegation's average was 88 — or sixth in the nation. The average House score was 60.
Schumer said clean air and water, along with preventing pollution, are essential for building communities where people will want to live and work.
"It is especially important to preserve the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley locations that draw visitors to the area, create jobs and bring in much needed tourism dollars," he said.
Hall was pleased to receive the league's recognition.
He said he has worked to create clean energy jobs in the Hudson Valley, as well as promote renewable energy resources.
"American leadership on clean energy will allow us to create green jobs that can't be outsourced and to provide a healthier future for our children," Hall said.
Hinchey said it was important to focus attention on the environmental issues because it can lead to the creation of jobs that can stimulate the economy.
"These are things I'm very much interested in, because they are critical for the future of our country and this planet," he said.
Gillibrand did not respond to a request for comment.
The Poughkeepsie Journal: Local Congress members tops on environment
February 23, 2010
By MICHAEL WOYTON
Four out of five local members of Congress got perfect scores on environmental votes in 2009, according to the League of Conservation Voters.
The 2009 National Environmental Scorecard examined 11 Senate votes and 13 House votes in the first session of the 111th Congress, including bills for clean energy, protecting public lands and clean water.
Reps. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, and Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley, as well as Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer received grades of 100 percent for their votes.
Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, received a grade of 88 percent for the seven votes for which he was eligible to vote.
Murphy took office April 29, after he won an election to fill Gillibrand's vacant seat.
He voted for a bill that would have prohibited court-mandated protections for the Bay-Delta Estuary in California.
The league said a vote against the legislation was the pro-environment stand.
Josh Schwerin, Murphy's spokesman, said the congressman prides himself on working to protect the environment and has been an advocate for building a clean-energy economy.
"The one vote, about a complicated local issue in California, was an instance where his vote didn't happen to align with the League of Conservation Voters and the majority of his Democratic colleagues," Schwerin said.
Tiernan Sittenfeld, the league's legislative director, said the scorecard is not a political document.
"It provides a snapshot and a yardstick that can be used Congress-wide" to see how senators and representatives voted on important environmental legislation, she said.
Marcia Bystryn, the league's president, said New York lawmakers outperformed the average rankings.
"Both senators had 100 percent ratings," she said, "while the average was 64."
Likewise, the state congressional delegation's average was 88 — or sixth in the nation. The average House score was 60.
Schumer said clean air and water, along with preventing pollution, are essential for building communities where people will want to live and work.
"It is especially important to preserve the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley locations that draw visitors to the area, create jobs and bring in much needed tourism dollars," he said.
Hall was pleased to receive the league's recognition.
He said he has worked to create clean energy jobs in the Hudson Valley, as well as promote renewable energy resources.
"American leadership on clean energy will allow us to create green jobs that can't be outsourced and to provide a healthier future for our children," Hall said.
Hinchey said it was important to focus attention on the environmental issues because it can lead to the creation of jobs that can stimulate the economy.
"These are things I'm very much interested in, because they are critical for the future of our country and this planet," he said.
Gillibrand did not respond to a request for comment.
