Clean Water Action presents the NJ Environmental Federation Legislative Scorecard 2010-2013. The scorecard represents a permanent record that scores every NJ state legislator on votes, action and leadership on significant environmental bills between 2010 and 2013.
- Find out how your legislator scored here.
To find out who your legislators are, visit the NJ State Legislative website. - View the Regional Chart
- Read the Scorecard Press Release
- Read the statement of Janet Tauro, NJ Environmental Federation board chair.
- Read what legislative leaders have to say.
About the Scorecard
The scorecard rates all 120 members of the NJ State Assembly and Senate on their votes, sponsorships, and leadership on the most important environmental issues since January 2010, when Governor Christie began his term and the new legislative leadership took the reins.
Despite some successes, the NJ Legislature is failing when it comes to environmental protection. We found:
- The NJ Legislature was pro-environment less than half the time (48%)
- the Assembly at 48% and the Senate at 49%. - The pro-environment position succeeded on only 4 of the 18 bills scored-11 times defeated primarily by Democrats failure to act and 3 times by Republicans refusal to override the governor's veto on bills they had previously supported.
- Read the full scorecard here.
This is shameful. New Jersey has a history as a bi-partisan environmental leader. With the highest population density in the U.S. and over 100 years of industrialization, we have also led the way in adopting model solutions (i.e. higher drinking water testing standards, strongest-in-the nation fertilizer law, and the NJ Highlands and Pinelands Acts). Protecting our natural resources and communities from harm are worth their weight in gold--they are good for public health, the environment, and the economy. What don't our legislators get about that?
We need stronger, not weakened, laws to protect our air, water, land, and public health. Consider this:
- In 2011, there were close to 2,500 hospital admissions for asthma in New Jersey (1). Per federal air pollution standards, NJ has some of the worse air quality in the nation (2).
- 22,000 NJ homes were left uninhabitable by Sandy and total NJ business losses were estimated at $8.3 billion. Climate change will only make big storms, severe weather and flooding events more frequent (1).
- NJ waterways are in serious decline. In a recent study, only 22 of 952 watershed areas met all water quality standards and are considered "healthy watersheds" (3).
Given the aftermath of Sandy and the Governor's poor environmental record, we need NJ Legislators to stand up for the environment!
Take Action
Tell your legislators how you feel about their scores. Ask them to advocate and support key environmental bills this summer and moving forward. Tell them New Jerseyans simply won't stand for a failing grade on the environment. They can and must do a better job protecting our water, air and land resources and public health.
