Some Queens congressmembers aced their green test last year. But some were average, and one was at the bottom of the class.
That is according to the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) latest national environmental scorecard.
Congressmembers Steve Israel and Carolyn Maloney were tops, with each scoring a 97, followed by Joseph Crowley with a 91. Both of the state’s U.S. Senators, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, scored 93 percent. Nydia Velázquez trailed slightly with an 86 percent and Gregory Meeks pulled a 77 percent.
Former representative Gary Ackerman scored a 74. But another retiring congressmember, Bob Turner, had an abysmal 3 percent, a low matched by Tea Party Republicans representing Big Oil districts in Texas.
The scores are based on 14 Senate votes and 35 House votes on public health, clean energy, land and wildlife conservation issues.
“In the face of unprecedented attacks on laws protecting water, air and land, environmental allies like Steve Israel, Caroline [sic] Maloney … stood up for our values and put New Yorkers first,” said NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn in a statement. “While Americans were seeing the historic impacts of extreme weather right outside their window, members like … Bob Turner continued to ignore the reality of climate change.”
The state’s average House score in the most recent review was 65 percent, falling drastically from 97 percent in 2010.
“The U.S. House of Representatives sided with Big Oil and corporate polluters time and time again in 2012, cementing its status as the most anti-environmental House in our nation’s history,” said Gene Karpinski, president of the country’s League of Conservation Voters.
“The best that can be said about this session of the 112th Congress is that it’s over,” Karpinski said.
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