HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale and Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was honored this week by the Pennsylvania League of Conservation Voters as an environmental champion.
“I thank the League of Conservation Voters for its rating and endorsement,” said George. “Less than 27 percent of state legislators — 68 out of 253 state senators and representatives — received the ‘champion’ rating, so it’s obvious we all have work to do to make conservation a priority in the Legislature.”
George said two of the eight League benchmarks used to rate state representatives were based on legislation he offered that protected free speech and proven environmental programs that would have been raided to pay for the historic Growing Greener II bond issue.
The League, a non-partisan and nonprofit corporation, noted the disparity between the House and the Senate on environmental issues. Only five of the 50 senators were named champions in the League’s 2005-06 Environmental Scorecard while 63 of the 203 representatives earned the honor.
“I have long maintained that the state Senate is where so much responsible environmental legislation goes to die,” George said. “We must make conservation votes a litmus test if we want to give Pennsylvanians the tools to protect themselves from unneeded and unwanted landfills, irresponsible sludge spreading and polluters that leave communities and critical wildlife habitat in tatters.
“I expect to see a news release soon from Senate leaders decrying the scorecard, alleging bias and a number of feeble excuses,” George said. “However, the votes, and the legislation they are based on are all part of the public record.”
The Environmental Scorecard — listing the votes and ratings of all 253 lawmakers — is available on the League’s Web site.