tennessee conservation voters releases legislative scorecard

5^th Annual Scorecard Rates Environmental Votes 

Tennessee Conservation Voters, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of Tennessee's environment, announces the release of its 5^th annual Legislative Scorecard.  The event will be held in Room 31 of the Legislative Plaza at 11:00 am on Monday October 22nd. The scorecard is published to provide a clear and concise way to understand and evaluate each legislator's voting record on key legislation that was considered during the 2007 session of the 105^th General Assembly.

In a statement released Monday via e-mail from Michelle Haynes, TCV Board of Director's president, Ms. Haynes explained:

"Tennessee Conservation Voters has been publishing this scorecard for the past five years on state environmental votes. We think it is unique on the state level, in that it goes beyond the mega-issues of conservation and the environment and tries to reflect patterns of support or opposition for the issues we are interested in."

Longtime TCV Board of Directors member Daniel Boone of Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association also released a statement adding:

"It's an important tool for informing voters statewide not only of environmental issues, but more importantly, how their legislators are responding. It could be an even more effective tool if there were more recorded votes in committees and sub-committees. There has been a gradual improvement in overall scores since we published the first scorecard five years ago."

Alex Tapia of Kilowatt Ours, TCV's newest member organization stated:

"Without the TCV's Scorecard, Tennessee's natural environment would not have
a watchdog in the General Assembly."

Chris Ford, Executive Director noted: 

"2007 has been a historic year for the people so very fortunate to live within the boundaries of Tennessee. Projects like the 124,000 acre North Cumberland Plateau land acquisition continue the vision of the current administration to protect a Tennessee way of life for future generations.  Our citizens and the millions who visit the Volunteer State each year look to these leaders to protect our land, air and water."

Several noteworthy actions of the Legislature were enacted into law this year, in addition to the historic Cumberland Plateau Land Acquisition, including new laws that require the state Comptroller to conduct a performance audit of state agencies and departments responsible for the conservation of energy and the study of and production of alternative sources of energy as outlined in Senate Bill 146/House Bill 1218 as well as a request of the administration to develop a comprehensive state energy plan enacted in SB 266/ HB 224.

The top-ranked members of the Senate on the 2007 scorecard are Senators Raymond Finney (R-8^th) and Senator Rosalind Kurita (D-22^nd).  Senate newcomer and former State representative Beverly Marrero, who replaced US Congressman Steve Cohen, scored equally as well in the House and Senate, solidifying her place atop the 2007 scorecard.  Other high ranking senators include Doug Jackson (D-25^th).

The top-ranked Representative Mike McDonald (D-44^th) is once again among the highest performers on the TCV Scorecard as are TN House Members Mike Turner (D-51^st) Brenda Gilmore (D-54^th) Frank Buck (D-40^th) and Gary Moore (D-50^th).