NYLCV Issues 2010 Legislative Progress Report

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NEW YORK --- The New York State Assembly and Senate earned a C grade based on mixed progress on a modest environmental agenda, according to one of the state's leading environmental groups. 

The New York League of Conservation Voters, which works to make environmental sustainability a top political and policy priority in New York State, has issued its 2010 Legislative Progress Report.  This grade is based on massive cuts in environmental funding and failure to act on critical statewide environmental issues. 

While some progress was made, specifically on low-sulfur heating oil, net metering, smart growth, e-waste, and bus camera legislation, these successes have been outweighed by major disappointments.  Massive cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund, the lack of legislation on Article X, and failure to pass progressive legislation regarding climate change and renewables are just a few examples of the poor job legislators have done on environmental issues. 

"We saw some wins, but overall this legislative session was a disappointment for New York's environment," said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.  "The failure to advance our modest environmental agenda reflects the lack of vision of our legislators.  Sustainability is the way forward for a stronger, greener, more financially stable New York, and legislative action needs to reflect that."  

In addition to the overall grade, the Legislative Progress Report gives the Legislature grades on eight critical priority areas.  They earned a D on Clean Energy, a C on Climate Change and Air Quality, a C on Energy Efficiency, a C on Smart Growth, a D on Natural Resource Protection, a C on Transportation, and an A on Solid Waste Infrastructure.  The chosen issues were inspired by the 2010 NYLCVEF Policy Agenda.

The goal of the Legislative Progress Report is to inform voters about Legislative activities so that they may make informed voting choices in the upcoming elections.  Additionally, NYLCV hopes Legislators reflect on the 2010 Progress Report and it inspires them to further environmental initiatives next session.