UPDATED: Vast Differences In Local Lawmakers’ Environmental Scores

Environmental Advocates recently issued its 2013 scoreboard on the environmental voting record of New York’s lawmakers. Rockland County’s assembly members, Ellen Jaffee and Ken Zebrowski, received ratings of 100 with Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) receiving a rating of 59.

Carlucci's spokesman Jason Elan issued a statement disputing the validity of the organization’s scorecard.

"Environmental Advocates has once again launched an inaccurate and misleading representation of Senator Carlucci's strong record on the environment,” Elan said. “This "scorecard" is entirely bogus and nothing more than a blatant disguise designed to shield its true intention of scoring cheap political points. The truth of the matter is that Senator Carlucci has been a leading voice in opposing hydrofracking in New York, a champion of fighting against an unnecessary and costly desalination plan in Rockland County, and sponsor of countless bills that encourage clean air and promote the outdoors.”

Elan noted that the New York League of Conservation Voters had endorsed Carlucci for reelection in 2012.

Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) said, “I’m extremely proud of my environmental record in the legislature.”

He said taking action now on environmental issues and protecting natural resources is actually planning for the future. 

“I think that the bills we’ve been pushing in the legislature are a broad agenda that protects human safety and the environment,” said Zebrowski, who is a member of the assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee. 

Zebrowski said bills on hydrofracking, solar energy and child safety and products were among the most critical.

The 40-year-old nonprofit organization explains its work is “to ensure environmental laws are enforced, tough new measures are enacted, and the public is informed of — and participates in — important policy.”

Environmental Advocates described the work of the assembly and senate during the 2013 legislative session. 

“Once again the Assembly worked hard to move good policy – with Assemblyman Bob Sweeney putting our environment and health ahead of the wall of corporate money that consistently shuts down good legislation in the Senate. In all, the Assembly passed 26 good bills to just 11 passed by the Senate.”

The complete Environmental Scorecard can be found here.

In 2012, Carlucci received a score of 35; Jaffee received a 91 and Zebrowski received a 95.

Environmental Advocates listed 71 of the state’s assembly members who earned scores of 100 and 11 senators who were listed by as voting “correctly” on every environmental bill.