See the related article for more details on the CTLCV Scorecard criteria, and how Newtown's delegation stacked up on all the votes used in determining the lawmakers' scores.

Newtown’s three current state representatives — Mitch Bolinsky, Dan Carter and DebraLee Hovey — scored 67, 56, and 44 respectively on the latest Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) Environmental Scorecard. But each of the lawmakers defended their positions on environmental issues that came before them in the past session, as well as their scores.

This year’s CTLCV Scorecard represents the latest in a 15-year series of documents that rate Connecticut’s state legislators by the votes they have cast on key environmental bills.

Lori Brown, executive director, said that the Scorecards tally votes on major issues and show a numerical score for each legislator.

The document describes the most important environmental bills to come up in the Connecticut General Assembly, and explains wins and losses for the environment. This year, she added, the environment racked up some promising wins.

According to the agency’s website, the major issues tracked by CTLCV in 2014 were open space protection, state parks stewardship, tree trimming, water planning, Long Island Sound protection, genetically modified grass seed, children’s exposure to pesticides, toxins in the environment (in addition to pesticides), chemicals of high concern for children, fracking waste, methane gas leaks from natural gas delivery systems, outdoor wood burning furnaces, the public’s right to comment on subdivision applications, repeal of environmental regulations, and exemption from penalties for first-time violators of environmental regulations.

While the organization points out that the 2014 legislative session was one of the most tumultuous in recent years, with inter-chamber squabbling threatening to block any serious forward motion on environmental issues, a final-hours break in the legislative logjam propelled a number of environmental bills into the state statutes.

Those issues included measures dealing with fracking waste, water planning, open space, excessive tree trimming, and air pollution from leaking methane gas and outdoor wood burning furnaces.

“In the end, we were relieved to be able to call 2014 a very good year,” said Ms Brown. “However, with the number of highly placed environmental champions retiring from the General Assembly this year, we must work hard to get good people elected if we want to see this kind of success in the future.”

Coincidentally, the 2014 Scorecard is dedicated to three of those champions who are retiring including Newtown’s senator and Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, along with President Pro-Tem Donald Williams, and Senate Chair of the Environment Committee Ed Meyer.

Senator McKinney retires with a current year score of 88, and a lifetime ranking of 86 (out of a possible 100).

Representative Tony Hwang, who is running for Sen McKinney’s seat, is among another half-dozen designated environmental champions. In Connecticut General Assembly races, the CTLCV is also endorsing Rep Hwang in his senate run to represent Newtown, Easton, Fairfield, Weston and Westport.

In responses to emails from The Newtown Bee regarding their scores, Reps Bolinsky, Carter and Hovey, who is also retiring this year, all defended their positions and their votes on Scorecard-related initiatives.

Rep Bolisky Response

Representative Bolinsky, a Republican, scored 67 percent for 2014 and maintains a career score 67 following two years in office. His response regarding this year’s score is as follows:

“The Environmental scorecard is a good example of why complex issues should not be answered with yes/no answers. That’s how votes on narrowly-written, special interest bills get misinterpreted,” Rep Bolinsky said. “Despite a 67 being a ‘passing’ score, I am disappointed that it paints a pretty misleading picture of my personal activism and environmental-orientation.

“As a legislator, it is my responsibility to act responsibly on bills that are well-founded and attempt to address issues and problems with careful consideration of scientific evidence because, not to do so, might place premature mandate burdens on towns and businesses in Connecticut,” he wrote.

“For instance, when it came to the fracking bills, I voted against the all-out ban of fracking waste. A big black mark on my scorecard. Instead, I voted in support of a bill that would classified fracking waste as hazardous for the three-years that the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will need to complete a study on this waste,” his response continued. “Now, considering there is no fracking activity in Connecticut and the bill I supported restricts what can be brought into the state, yet allows DEEP and Connecticut entrepreneurs to do research on the material, I believe the all-out ban was not needed.

“I consider myself, and my actions are that of an environmental steward, living my life and working my private-sector career as a strong protector of our planet,” Rep Bolinsky continued. “I doubt you can find another legislator who has actually launched an industry-based recycling program, as I did in 2009, when I worked with the EPA and California to create a real-life solution to virtually eliminate the global-warming effects of consumers’ servicing their own automotive air-conditioning systems.

“I work on the legislature’s Environment Committee. I try to understand the issues and where the majority of my Newtown constituents side in regard to them,” he concluded. “Then, I try to vote in our collective best interests, always considering the future, sustainability and, environmentally, leaving things better than we found them.

Rep Hovey Response

Rep Hovey, a Republican, scored 44 percent and is leaving office with a lifetime CTLCV score of 65. Her response is as follows:

“If you look at the scorecard this year you will see I was absent for several of the CLCVT votes which they ran on one particular day. I had a difficult year this year with illness,” she confided. “That being said I did vote for several things I believe will be very beneficial the most important being the water bill. I have had increasing concerns about the monopolies managing our water and increasingly banning access to land that has centuries of use for passive recreation.

“Over the years you will see I have had high and low scores on this scorecard. While I am a conservationist I am also a realist and often special interest becomes radical and interferes with the working of good government or individual rights, I do not support that kind of activity,” Rep Hovey continued.

“A good example was the tree trimming bill which now requires written permission from land owner to cut trees interfering with power or communication lines,” she concluded. “We here in the 112th were without power for more than 10 days a few years ago because of poor maintenance of tree trimming and now those companies will be further hindered in getting the job done. Not my idea of good legislation.”

Rep Carter Response

Rep Carter, a Republican, scored 56 percent and currently has a lifetime score of 66. His response is as follows:

“It is difficult to give short quotes, because the reasons to support or not support a bill are often complicated,” Rep Carter began.

“First, I have to be honest and say while I pay attention to the score, I don’t think their scores are any reflection of how any of our legislators stand on environmental issues. The scoring system is completely flawed. For instance, many bills are incomplete or a work in progress when they go through committee,” he wrote. “It’s the fact that there is some opposition in committee which drives the changes that make a bill better before it gets to the floor of the House or Senate for a vote. One year I voted for all of the bills on the floor, but because I didn’t support s few bills in committee, my score was lower.

“Secondly, I lost some respect for the group this year since they are totally absent from the process, which was completely evident by their support of SB 443 which was sent to the House and voted down, which I have only seen a bill voted down twice in 4 years,” Rep Carter continued. “Here are some details for the bills that the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters take issue with my vote:

HB5408 - AN ACT CONCERNING TREE TRIMMING

“I was one of 8 Representatives who voted against the bill. After the major storms and subsequent power outages that plagued our area a few years ago, the legislature recognized the fact the utilities were not keeping up on tree trimming and passed legislation that created a notification and appeal system for trimming trees,” Rep Carter wrote. “HB 5408 makes it more difficult to manage tree trimming and it created a costly mediation process when we already have among the highest electric rates in the country. It also establishes in law the concept that if a person does not consent to tree trimming and the tree subsequently falls and damages utility equipment, the owner bears no responsibility. Indecently, the origination and support of this bill came from the Hamden and New Haven area.”

HB5424 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WATER PLANNING COUNCIL.

“I was one of seven representatives to vote against the bill. One of my concerns is the bill vastly expands the state’s control over local water resources,” he wrote. “For instance, the bill lays the groundwork for the state to force the sale of a municipal water system to a private entity, similar to the situation that Bethel voters voted down last year. While I favor increasing the scope of the current plan for managing water resources, I believe local governments should maintain some reasonable control over local water resources.”

SB443 – AN ACT CONCERNING PESTICIDES ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND MUNICIPAL GREENS AND BANNING THE SALE AND USE OF GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED LAWN OR TURF SEEDS.

“The original bill was hijacked by a Senator looking to make a name for himself by banning GMO grass seed, which isn’t available on the market. Meanwhile, the original bill to regulate pesticides on school grounds was lost,” Rep Carter wrote. “As a result, 103 representatives out of 151 (37 voted for it) voted down the bill in an act of solidarity because the bill didn’t go through the appropriate legislative process. The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters should not advocate for this bill as I believe it completely undermines their credibility by demonstrating how removed from the process they really are.”

HB5431 – AN ACT REQUIRING THE SUSPENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES IMPOSED ON CERTAIN BUSINESS ENTITIES

“I was one of 120 that voted for the bill. Businesses in Connecticut are over regulated and can be subject to significant penalties if a regulation is broken, often unwittingly by small businesses who have limited legal resources,” he said. “This bill states that ANY state agency MAY suspend a civil penalty for a first time violation, as long as the violation isn’t wilful, grossly negligent, results in bodily injury, and the business can correct the violation within 30 days. I think this is a reasonable way to make Connecticut a little more business friendly.

“While the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters are probably interested in DEEP Regulations,” Rep Carter concluded, “this bill effects all agencies and only gives the agency a choice in certain circumstances, unlike the title of the bill suggests.”

Despite several attempts, Senator McKinney could not be reached for comments regarding his performance on the 2014 Scorecard.