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Check out the environment champions and the not so champions in New Mexico. Are you surprised? CVNM_2008_Scorecard.pdf (click to download scorecard)

May 7, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Sandy Buffett, CVNM Executive Director 505-992-8683(VOTE)

Conservation Voters NM Releases Annual Scorecard of NM Legislature
"Heroes" and "Zeros" of conservation highlighted

Santa Fe, NM. Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) rolled out its annual Legislative Scorecard on Tuesday, assessing the impact of the 2008 New Mexico State Legislative Session on New Mexico's air, land, water and quality of life. The scorecard provides New Mexicans with the voting records of all legislators, as well as a description of the conservation performances of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

"Conservation Voters New Mexico works to turn environmental values into state priorities," stated Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of CVNM. "Our scorecard provides New Mexicans with critical information on whether their legislators voted for or against the protection of our air, land, and water. Using this Scorecard, citizens can determine for themselves if their legislators are representing their values in Santa Fe. "

CVNM's 100% Club, 2008 (p. 16):
These champion legislators earned a perfect (100%) conservation record for the 2008 session:
Representative Gail Chasey (HD 18, Bernalillo County)
Senator Dede Feldman (SD 13, Bernalillo County)
Senator John Grubesic (SD 25, Santa Fe County)
Senator Cisco McSorley, (SD 16, Bernalillo County)
Senator John Pinto (SD 3, McKinley and San Juan Counties)
Senator Michael Sanchez (SD 29, Valencia County)

"Conservation Offenders" - Lowest Scores in 2008 (p. 18):
These legislators all scored 0% in 2008:
Senator Vernon Asbill (SD 34, Eddy and Otero Counties)
Senator Kent Cravens (SD 21, Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties)
Senator Carroll Leavell (SD 41, Eddy and Lea Counties)
Senator William Sharer (SD 1, San Juan County)

The Scorecard highlights a successful struggle by CVNM to fight off a slew of attacks on New Mexico's regulatory process, including an attempt to slash the budget of the Environment Department. Also disappointing was the passage of SB487, a "Trojan horse" bill that would have encouraged new uranium mining in New Mexico by linking the cleanup of abandoned uranium mines to production from new uranium mines and mills. The bill was later vetoed by Governor Bill Richardson.

CVNM also successfully led the fight to defeat HB276, a Tax Increment Financing bill that would have provided a $629 million tax subsidy to SunCal Corporation on Albuquerque's West Side (pg. 19).

Other Highs & Lows:
Senator John Ryan (57%) and Representative Paul Bandy (63%) were the highest scoring Republicans.
The lowest scoring Democrats were Senator Tim Jennings (22%) and Representative Kiki Saavedra (25%).

Average 2008 Conservation Scores:
· House: 48%, Senate 48%
· House Democrats: 59%, House Republicans: 32%
· Senate Democrats: 69%, Senate Republicans: 22%

The CVNM Legislative scores reflect votes cast on the floor and in committee on the most important conservation issues facing the Legislature. Descriptions of the bills and the recommended pro-conservation position are included on pp. 8-9 of the Scorecard. CVNM scored legislators on the following bills:

Health and Environment
HB 583 (Chasey) TV and Video Game Excise Tax
SB 57 (B. Sanchez) Regulatory Process Task Force
HJR12 / SJR 7 (Foley/Ingle) Legislative Review of Regulatory Rules Constitutional Amendment

Land Use and Water
HB 276 (Silva) SunCal Tax Increment Project Bonds
HB 451 (Barela) Greenfield Tax Increment Districts
SB 434 (McSorley) Tax Increment Development District Moratorium
SJM 17 (Beffort) State Engineer Review of Water Exports
SM 49 (Lopez) Study Need for Agricultural Districts

Toxics
SB 487 (Ulibarri) Abandoned Uranium Mine Reclamation Fees
HJM 8 (Heaton) Change Waste Allowed in WIPP Site
SM 46 (Komadina) Defeat Federal Clean Water Restoration Act

Energy
HB 305 (B Lujan) Utility Customer Load Management
HJM 7 (Begaye) Study Coal Surtax

Wildlife and Wilderness
HJM 29/SJM 21 (Anderson / Carraro) Enact Federal Public Lands and Education Act
SJM 40 Study Off-Road Motorized Vehicle Use

An electronic pdf copy of the 2008 CVNM Legislative Scorecard can be accessed at http://www.cvnm.org/pdf/2008_Scorecard.pdf . CVNM is a nonpartisan, 501(c)4 nonprofit that works to make sensible conservation policies a top priority for elected officials, political candidates and voters across the state. For more information, please visit www.CVNM.org .

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Labels: 2008 Scorecard, Conservation Voters New Mexico