NRCM ranks state’s officials Dems excel in test on environment

The recently concluded legislative session got honor grades from the state’s largest environmental group, but that didn’t stop the Natural Resources Council of Maine from flunking some lawmakers.

As a whole, the Legislature earned an A for defeating bills that would have made the referendum process more restrictive and would have made “environmental terrorism” a crime, according to a report card issued Monday by NRCM. The group thought both bills would restrict free speech and political activism.

Lawmakers got a B-plus for curbing toxic pollution and a B for protecting forests and wild places. Incompletes were given for lake and river protection, air pollution, energy conservation and curbing sprawl.

“Maine’s lakes will face less of a threat from aquatic invasive species; mercury and dioxin pollution from consumer products will be reduced; and large forest landowners will have a more difficult time carving off pieces of property for liquidation harvesting,” said the group’s advocacy director Pete Didisheim. “The Legislature should be especially proud of these accomplishments.”

Despite its overall pleasure with the 120th Legislature, however, NRCM handed failing grades to several lawmakers, most of them Republicans.

Two representatives earned a score of zero on a scale of one to 10. They were Peter Chase, R-Levant, and Albion Goodwin, D-Pembroke. NRCM ranked representatives on 10 bills, ranging from referendum reform to labeling of mercury-containing products to stocking alewives in the St. Croix River.

Goodwin reveled when told of his low score.

“When I get a zero from that outfit, mister man, I’m some pleased,” he said Monday. “That means the people in Washington County know I’m working for their interests.”

Getting a low grade from NRCM is a good thing, he said, because it shows he is working to protect people rather than plants and animals, particularly wolves.

“I hate wolves,” he said. “I want to put people first.”

Another low-scoring representative was Rep. Carol Weston, R-Montville, with a score of one. She said she wants to protect the environment, but that must be balanced against her desire to protect private property rights and to promote economic activity.

“What I try to do very hard is balance things,” she said.

NRCM gave Weston one point for voting for a bill that stepped up public education about milfoil, an invasive plant that has yet to reach Maine, but has choked off lakes in other states.

Another low scorer, Rep. Roger Sherman, R-Hodgdon, said NRCM was too single-minded in its focus on environmental issues. He said lawmakers are charged with looking at the big picture, which includes the interest of small-business owners and farmers, for example. He got a score of one.

In the Senate, the group looked at five votes, including the confirmation of Steve Wight to serve another term on the Land Use Regulation Commission. The Sportman’s Alliance of Maine, irked by Wight’s votes to deny public boat launches on Spencer Lake and in the Allagash region, vowed to defeat his nomination. Wight was easily reconfirmed.

The lowest scoring senators, earning just a one out of five, were Marge Kilkelly, D-Wiscasset, and Betty Lou Mitchell, R-Etna.

All the lawmakers who had perfect voting records in the eyes of NRCM were Democrats, with the exception of Sen. Jill Goldthwait, an independent.

NRCM had especially high praise for lawmakers for defeating bills it termed the “Filthy 15.” These bills included measures that would have weakened protection for wetlands, allowed gravel pits within 25 feet of streams, allowed Maine to ignore the federal Endangered Species Act and eroded the character of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, according to NRCM.

“The Legislature was at its best this session when it came to defeating bad bills,” Didisheim said.

Representatives receiving a perfect 10 for their votes on environmental bills were: Thomas Bull, D-Freeport; Patrick Colwell, D-Gardiner; Scott Cowger, D-Hallowell; Glenn Cummings, D-Portland; Benjamin Dudley, D-Portland; David Etnier, D-Hallowell; Elaine Fuller, D-Manchester; Stanley Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick; Bonnie Green, D-Monmouth; Thomas Kane, D-Saco; Marie Laverriere-Boucher, D-Biddeford; David Lemoine, D-Old Orchard Beach; Boyd Marley, D-Portland; Christopher O-Neil, D-Saco; William Savage, D-Buxton; Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford; Jonathan Thomas, D-Orono; Joanne Twomey, D-Biddeford

Representatives who scored one or zero: David Bowles, R-Sanford; Peter Chase, R-Levant; Harold Clough, R-Scarborough; Albion Goodwin, D-Pembroke; Janice LaBrecque, R-Gorham; William Pinkham, R-Lamoine; Roger Sherman, R-Hodgdon; Thomas Shields, R-Auburn; Vaughn Stedman, R-Hartland; Carol Weston, R-Montville; Florence Young, R-Limestone

Senators who scored a perfect five: Beverly Daggett, D-Augusta; Neria Douglas, D-Auburn; Betheda Edmonds, D-Freeport; Kenneth Gagnon, D-Waterville; Jill Goldthwait, I-Bar Harbor; Lloyd Lafountain, D-Biddeford; Anne Rand, D-Portland; Margaret Rotundo, D-Lewiston; Sharon Treat, D-Gardiner

Senators who scored a one: Marge Kilkelly, D-Wiscasset; Betty Lou Mitchell, D-Etna.