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February 24, 2004TRAVERSE CITY: Leaders get poor scorecard ratingsEnviromental votes are key in evaluationByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Northern Michigan lawmakers earned poor marks on an environmental coalition's "scorecard" based on legislators' voting records over the past year. A new report from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters rated all state House and Senate members' votes on several environmental and conservation bills, ranging from tightening rules on imported trash to water use regulations and polluter pay legislation. "People in the northern Lower Peninsula should be pretty disappointed their legislators have such a poor voting record on these particular issues," said Anne Woiwode, director of the state Sierra Club chapter and a member of the coalition that crafted the scorecard. Critics of the scorecard dismissed it as a superficial, politically motivated report. But area lawmakers were panned for their low scores because they represent a region of Michigan where natural resources protection supposedly is a chief concern. Other participants included the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation and the Michigan Environmental Council. State senators were rated on seven bills - eight for House members - that were voted on in 2003. Area House members received the lowest scores, including a 25 percent rating for House Speaker Rick Johnson, R-Leroy, and Rep. Ken Bradstreet, R-Gaylord. State Rep. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City, and Rep. David Palsrok, R-Manistee, received slightly higher scores - 38 percent. Several House Democrats received a 100 percent rating; the highest House Republican rated 63 percent. Woiwode said a rating of 70 percent and above would be considered "a good environmental record." In the Senate, Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, and Sen. Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau, received a 57 percent rating, while Tony Stamas, R-Midland, logged a 43 percent rating. The highest Senate rating was 86 percent shared by several Democrats. Johnson's press secretary, Matt Resch, said the report has an "anti-Republican" slant offering little insight on environmental issues. Resch said Johnson has voted on "thousands" of legislative issues with a strong record on the environment. "It doesn't serve voters very well to pull out eight votes and say that's what someone has done over their career," Resch said. "I think you have to take all these report cards with a grain of salt." Walker said parts of the scorecard are misleading. He said some of the legislation was "redundant" and others could hurt important interests in northern Michigan like agriculture. "I felt like all my votes represented the interests of the 104th District," Walker said. "I always look at (environmental issues) with a sense of balance and proportion." Others suggested the numbers say area lawmakers are out of touch with their voters on environmental and conservation issues. "Their job is to reflect the views of the communities they represent," said Donna Stein, assistant director for policy for the MUCC. "I suspect their constituents feel a lot stronger about these issues than their votes are indicating."
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