Albany – New York’s state legislators completed their first
Legislative Session against the backdrop of the Trump presidency, at a
time when Congress and the Administration have sought the roll back of
dozens of health and environmental protections.
EPL/Environmental Advocates documented legislators’ voting records on
issues such as climate action, plastic waste, water quality, and much
more. The organization also announced its environmental champions, and
bestowed the dubious Oil Slick Award to a member of the state Senate who
has gone above and beyond in his efforts to undermine and harm New
York’s air, water, and climate.
2017 Overview
Just as New York’s Legislative Session got underway, the
president-elect’s cabinet picks were moving through the confirmation
process in the U.S. Senate, and it was clear we would be faced with the
most anti-federal-government government ever assembled. The Legislature
and Governor Cuomo were, however, able to come together to deliver on a
number of accomplishments, including a $2.5 billion clean water
infrastructure investment within the state budget, establishing of the
statewide Drinking Water Quality Council, and passage of eight pieces of
pro-environmental legislation which await the Governor’s pen.
Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of EPL/Environmental Advocates
said, “The state Assembly, led by Speaker Carl Heastie and Environmental
Conservation Chair Steve Englebright, continued their remarkable
efforts to make New York State a true leader. However, many measures
died once again in the state Senate where Independent Democratic
Conference Leader Jeff Klein partnered with Republican Leader John
Flanagan to snuff out progress.”
With strong bipartisan support, the Assembly overwhelmingly passed
measures such as a constitutional amendment to guarantee New Yorkers the
right to clean air, water, and a healthful environment, as well as the
landmark Climate and Community Protection Act. Both measures died in the
Senate where leaders took up four “smokestack” bills, including:
Measures to override local governments’ law to cut plastic bag waste.
Senator Flanagan’s clean energy jobs killer, which
would have eliminated State funding for programs that help cut energy
bills, put people to work in the wind and solar industry, and lower the
cost of electric vehicles.
A giveaway to Big Oil to be exempt from fees to the state Oil Spill
Fund, which helps communities clean up and recover when a spill occurs.
In all, 78 Assembly Members and 16 Senators earned a perfect score of
100, while 12 Assembly Members and 2 Senators, including this year’s
Oil Slick Awardee, earned failing grades.
Legislative Leaders
Amongst legislative leaders, Speaker Heastie, Senate Minority Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assemblyman Englebright, and Assembly Energy
Chair Amy Paulin all scored 100s. Meanwhile, Senate co-leaders Flanagan
and Klein earned equal scores of a dismal 71, while Senate Environmental
Conservation Chair Tom O’Mara and Energy Chair Joe Griffo earned just
68 points. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb had the lowest score
amongst all leaders with 62 points.
Environmental Champions
Two Republicans Assembly Members stood out in 2017, breaking with
party leaders, and putting their constituents interests and call for
action above party dogma: Assemblymen Anthony Palumbo (R-Riverhead) and
Andrew Raia (R-Northport). Both members supported the Climate and
Community Protection Act, the Environmental Bill of Rights, and scored
strongly overall.
And seven members of both houses continued to shine, building upon
their long-time records as true champions of our environment and public
health, including: Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan); Senator Tim Kennedy (D-Buffalo); Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan); Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-Brooklyn); Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton (D-Ithaca); Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn); and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein (D-Brooklyn).
Oil Slick Award
Suffolk County is number one in the state for vehicle emissions and
sources of air emissions that harm public health. Areas have also been
devastated by climate change and extreme weather such as Superstorm
Sandy, as well as water contamination crises plaguing the area. Still,
Senator Tom Croci (R-Hauppauge) has established a voting record that
ignores the needs of the communities he represents. He is also one of
only two senators who failed the 2017 Scorecard (59 points)
and, incredibly, is the only Senator who opposed common-sense
legislation to prevent Big Oil from turning the iconic Hudson River into
an oil barge parking lot.
Iwanowicz added, “It’s hard to square the voting record of Senator
Croci with the environment his constituents live, work, and play in. His
votes speak for themselves – they are extreme, and place the Senator
squarely on the side of the fossil fuel industry, against the people he
was elected to represent.”
Source: Environmental Advocates of New York
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