News Blog
Sierra Club Gives Monning High Environmental Marks, Alejo Room to Improve
November 16, 2012
Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, was one of just five assembly members to score a 100 percent eco-voting records this legislative session, according to a scorecard produced by the Sierra Club.
The scorecard relied on a formula considering how lawmakers voted on 13 different bills on matters from bicyclist safety to water rights to energy.
Monning's green voting record didn't stop big business from contributing to his nearly $600,000 successful state Senate campaign. Contributors include Facebook, International Union of Operating Engineers, Pharmacy Professionals of California PAC and Southern California Pipe Trades District Council PAC.
Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, scored 77 percent for his abstention on a failed bill that would've banned expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) take-out containers from restaurants, and also yes votes on what the Sierra Club viewed as anti-environment bills.
Both AB 845 and 1073 passed. The former prohibits local jurisdictions from restricting solid waste based on its point of origin and AB 1073 allows a particular solar project to be reviewed by the California Energy Commission. The Sierra Club called it "a special interest bill that would allow the Calico Solar Project to circumvent the normal environmental review."
Lame duck State Senator Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, scored 45 percent, with five out of 11 eco-friendly votes according to the Sierra Club. Blakeslee will be replaced by Monning the next legislative session.
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