City's Legislative Delegation Receives Mixed Ratings On Environmental Votes

The bipartisan Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) released its annual scorecard of legislative votes on Monday. Two of our State Representatives, Democrats Gail Hamm and Matt Lesser, and one of our State Senators, Republican Len Suzio, received a perfect score from the environment watchdog. Lesser has received a perfect rating each of the 4 years he has served in Hartford.

The CTLCV scored legislators' votes on 21 bills in the 2011 session. Some of these votes were in committees, so not all legislators voted on all of those bills. The full report of the CTLCV is available HERE.

Paul Doyle (D, Senate 9th) 82%
Doyle took what the CTLCV considers the pro-environment position on each of the 8 bills that reached the Senate floor. However, in the Judiciary Committee, he voted in favor of the Environmental Protection Act Rollback (SB343), which would have made it much more difficult for the public to oppose development applications (the bill passed the Judiciary Committee but died on the Senate calendar). He also voted in the General Law Committee against the Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Act (SB92), which would have required state and local police to maintain lockboxes for anonymous disposal of unused and expired pharmaceutical drugs (The bill died in the General Law Committee).

Len Suzio (R, Senate 13th) 100%
Suzio took what the CTLCV considers the pro-environment position on each of the 8 bills that reached the Senate floor. He did not serve on any of the committees that considered other bills.

Joe Serra (D, House 33rd) 88%
Serra took what the CTLCV considers the pro-environment position on each of the 5 bills that reached the House floor. However, in the House Judiciary Committee, he voted in favor of the Environmental Protection Act Rollback (SB343), which would have made it much more difficult for the public to oppose development applications (the bill passed the Judiciary Committee but died on the Senate calendar).

Matt Lesser (D, House 100th) 100%
Lesser took what the CTLCV considers the pro-environment position on each of the 5 bills that reached the House floor. He also took pro-environment positions on two bills that he voted on in committee, the Water Conservation Bill (SB415) in the Energy and Technology Committee (this bill passed the House but failed in the Senate), and the Chemicals of High Concern for Children Bill (SB274) in the Public Health Committee (this bill died on the Senate calendar).

Gail Hamm (D, House 34th) 100%
Hamm took what the CTLCV considers the pro-environment position on each of the 5 bills that reached the House floor. She did not serve on any of the committees that considered other bills.

Christie Carpino (R, House 32nd) 88%
Carpino took what the CTLCV considers the pro-environment position on each of the 5 bills that reached the House floor. However, in the House Judiciary Committee, she voted in favor of the Environmental Protection Act Rollback (SB343), which would have made it much more difficult for the public to oppose development applications (the bill passed the Judiciary Committee but died on the Senate calendar).

Special Olympics Penguin Plunge! Feb 25

Welcome to the

Middletown Penguin Plunge

*Crystal Lake*

The Pavillion at Polish Falcons Nest #519,

Prout Hill Road, Middletown

February 25, 2012

**New $75 fundraising minimum

Registration: 10 AM
Plunge: 12 PM

Sponsors: Polish Falcons of Middletown Nest 519

Last year, 235 penguins took the plunge and raised $50,000 for Special Olympics athletes and programs. The Middleton Penguin Plunge is one of ten Plunges for Special Olympics Connecticut that are scheduled to happen across the state this year, giving many the chance to jump into the chilly water in bathing suits, team jerseys or creative costumes for a good cause.

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and Unified Partners (their teammates without disabilities). For more information on how to donate please visit www.soct.org

Both plungers and corporate sponsors should contact Marc Mercadente. You can register online at http://www.soct.org/plunges/, or call 860 887-1555 to receive a registration packet.

State Rep. Christine Carpino (R) is an ambassador for the Special Olympics of CT

Middletown's Legislative Delegation Has Mixed Record On Environmental Protection

The bipartisan Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) released its annual scorecard of legislative votes. One of our State Representatives, Democrat Matt Lesser, and one of our State Senators, Republican Len Suzio, voted on all environmentally important legislation and received a perfect score from the environment watchdog.

The CTLCV scored legislators' votes on 12 bills in the 2011 session. Some of these votes were in committees, so not all legislators voted on all of those bills. The full report of the CTLCV is available HERE.

Overall, the CTLV concludes that state lawmakers got caught up in the effort to weaken environmental protections that swept the nation this year. However, there were 38 lawmakers with perfect scores, and they led the effort for environmental protection. CTLV Co-Chair David Bingham said:

Connecticut’s core group of legislators who understand the necessity of a healthy environment to sustain a healthy economy were sorely tested this year. Despite the pressures of economic distress, they upheld policies that are critical to providing clean air and water and make Connecticut an inviting state to do business. But holding the line is insufficient. There is much still to do, much still at risk.

Here is how members of our city's delegation were scored:

Paul Doyle (D, Senate 9th) 83%
Doyle voted on all 6 of the scored bills which he was able to vote on. One of his votes was not considered the environmentally responsible one: he voted in favor of the Haddam land swap, which passed.

Len Suzio (R, Senate 13th) 100%
Suzio voted on all 5 of the scored bills which he was able to vote on.

Joe Serra (D, House 33rd) 71%
Serra voted on all 7 of the scored bills which he was able to vote on. On 2 of those, his vote was not considered the environmentally responsible one. He voted in favor of the Haddam Land swap, which passed. He also voted in favor of a bill which would have mandated ATV trails on State Land without providing any money to care for them, this bill did not pass.

Matt Lesser (D, House 100th) 100%
Lesser voted on all 6 of the scored bills which he was able to vote on.

Gail Hamm (D, House 34th) 100%
Hamm did not vote much on environmentally important issues, casting a vote on only 1 of the scored bills she was able to vote on.

Christie Carpino (R, House 32nd) 67%
Carpino voted on all 6 of the scored bills which she was able to vote on. She voted against a bill banning BPA in thermal paper receipts, which passed. She also voted in favor of the Haddam land swap.