Texas League of Conservation Voters Releases Legislative Scorecard, Endorses Candidates Who Earned "A" Grade in 81st Legislature

First Round of Endorsements go to 6 State Senators
and 70 State Representatives

AUSTIN - The Texas League of Conservation Voters (TLCV), the state's leading environmental organization dedicated to electing pro-conservation candidates, today released its legislative scorecard for the 81st Legislature. The group also announced its first round of endorsements for the 2010 elections for those incumbents who received an "A" grade on the scorecard.

"While the 81st Legislature was disappointing in terms of moving Texas forward on important conservation issues, there were enough up and down votes in both houses to distinguish between legislators who were committed to protecting and preserving Texas and those who were not," said David Weinberg, Executive Director of TLCV. "Today the TLCV endorses those State Senators and Representatives standing for re-election who demonstrated the strongest commitment at the legislature for clean air, clean water and clean energy, and for proper stewardship of Texas' beaches, state parks and open spaces," he added.

"We encourage Texans to vote for these pro-conservation candidates on March 2nd," said Weinberg.

TLCV's scorecard provides objective, factual information about conservation voting records, and helps hold the Texas Legislature accountable. Each vote scored presents a clear choice for our elected officials to uphold the conservation values shared by Texans. This year's TLCV scorecard covers a range of votes and issues, including: renewable energy, green technologies, and recycling and waste disposal.

House members were graded on 12 votes. Senate members were graded on 11 votes. Absences were counted negatively because they have the same effect as a "no" vote. Excused absences and members not voting while serving as Chair were not counted as negative votes.

Endorsees represent districts across the state, from both urban regions and rural areas. This round includes 16 endorsees from the Houston region, 12 from the Dallas-Fort Worth region, 11 from the San Antonio area, 9 from Austin-Central Texas, 7 from the El Paso region, 7 from the Rio Grande Valley, 5 from East Texas, 3 from the Corpus Christi-Coastal Bend Region, 2 from Beaumont and the Texas Panhandle, and one each from Laredo, Waco, The Big Country, and Southwest Texas.

The TLCV 2009 Legislative Scorecard can be found online at
www.tlcv.org/scorecards/2009/

The list of TLCV endorsed candidates can also be found online at www.tlcv.org/endorsements/

Texas League of Conservation Voters is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works to turn environmental values into priorities for Texas by helping pass laws that protect our environment, by helping elect pro-conservation candidates, by lobbying on environmental issues at the state legislature and by reporting on how officials voted in our biannual Legislative Scorecard. More information about the Texas League of Conservation Voters may be found online at www.tlcv.org.

Hunt, Fish, Vote Bill White

For Immediate Release
February 10, 2010

Texas League of Conservation Voters endorses White as the right choice for a clean future

AUSTIN, TEXAS - The Texas League of Conservation Voters (TLCV), a coalition of Texans committed to clean air, clean water, and access to public lands, water, fish and wildlife, has endorsed Bill White for Governor of Texas.

The non-partisan organization supports candidates who are committed to conserving Texas' natural resources. TLCV Executive Director David Weinberg thinks Bill White is the right choice for a cleaner Texas.

"For Texans who care about clean air, clean water, and open spaces, the choice couldn't be clearer: Bill White is the only candidate for Governor who voters can count on to make the right decisions to protect Texas. As Mayor of Houston, Bill White showed exemplary leadership in cracking down on polluters, growing park space, and expanding energy efficiency programs. Bill White represents a break from the old politics of damaging our natural resources and putting the public's health at risk, and the Texas League of Conservation Voters gives him our enthusiastic endorsement for Governor in 2010," said Weinberg.

As Houston's mayor, Bill White persuaded the EPA to overhaul their method of calculating pollution emitted from large refining and chemical plants and received the University of Texas HERO award for reducing regional air pollution. He also helped spearhead the coalition of Texas mayors who successfully fought the building of unneeded coal-fired power plants across the state. The Houston Chronicle called White "one of the most aggressive Houston mayors in history on air pollution."

White has said that he simply, "does not believe any person or company has the right to dump tons of cancer-causing chemicals into the air that we all breathe."

The son of San Antonio school teachers, White helped build a law firm and managed a successful business before being elected Houston's mayor in 2003. Since then, he's been re-elected twice with 86% and 91% of the vote. During White's administration, Houston led the nation's cities in job growth, adding more jobs than thirty-four states combined. At the same time, he cut property tax rates five years in a row and helped seniors with tax relief. White also started a special initiative that gives returning veterans the welcome they deserve with coordinated social services, reductions in red tape, and employment opportunities. After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike, Bill White mobilized effective disaster response including first responders, businesses and churches. For his compassionate, hands-on leadership after Katrina, White received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2007. Previously, he served as Deputy Secretary of Energy of the United States.

For more information, please visit www.billwhitefortexas.com. To be added to the press list, please email press@billwhitefortexas.com.

Contact:
Katy Bacon (campaign)
press@billwhitefortexas.com
713.613.5326

David Weinberg (TLCV)
dweinberg@tlcv.org
512.477.4424

On November 12, the Texas League of Conservation Voters hired a new Executive Director, David Weinberg. David comes to TLCV from New York State, where he spearheaded environmental campaigns for Consumers Union and the New York Public Interest Research Group, served as Chief of Staff for a New York State Representative, and earned a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. David is excited to be on board at TLCV and looks forward to meeting the many challenges of electing conservation champions in Texas in 2010. Clare Hudspeth continues to serve as TLCV's Development Director.

2010 will be an exciting year for the Texas League of Conservation Voters. The organization will endorse and fight for pro-environment candidates in critical state elections, launch a new TLCV website, and embark on an aggressive fundraising and membership campaign.

Please join us in welcoming our new Executive Director, and in electing conservation champions in 2010.

As TLCV gears up for the 2010 elections, nothing is more important than encouraging Texans to join us in our fight for clean air, clean water and open spaces. And TLCV is honored to count Houston Mayor Bill White among our strongest supporters.

Recently, Mayor White wrote a letter explaining his support for TLCV. We've sent it to thousands of conservation supporters around the state, so they can learn more about the work TLCV does and join us as we stand up for Texas–this fall as we conduct our membership campaign and next year at the ballot box.

Dear Proud Texan,
Aren't you tired of hearing that it takes "political courage" for some elected officials to stick up for protecting our natural resources against those who seek to damage them forever for private gain?

Doing the right thing only takes "courage" when Texas voters don't know what happens behind closed doors ... and don't have a means to support those who do choose to protect future generations and hold accountable those who don't.

Fortunately, the Texas League of Conservation Voters gives us an effective, non- partisan tool to be good stewards of our natural resources - and fight those who mess with Texas for short-term private gain.

And I know what it's like to both fight and prevail. As mayor, I've led Houston as we've led the nation in job growth and cracked down on polluters who put cancer- causing chemicals in the air. We've expanded park space - we now have more than any other big American city - and we established tough, strong and practical new energy efficiency codes for new buildings, reducing the need for new power plants and saving money.

We succeeded in these fights because an informed public stood with us!

The Texas League of Conservation Voters needs your help to push for progress statewide. Sign up today at www.tlcv.org or fill out and return the enclosed form.

The League stood up for Houston's legal powers to fight toxic air pollution, and other Texans need TLCV's help. If people like us don't protect our state's future, who will make sure our grandchildren can see the stars from the Lone Star State?

With respect for Texas,
Mayor Bill White

P.S.- As a sustaining member, you can help shape TLCV's priorities by answering the questionnaire on our website. We need your input - and your support! There's only one Texas...and it's worth protecting!

Thanks to Mayor White for his support.

TLCV is proud to count renowned naturalist Victor Emanuel among our supporters. As a leading authority on Texas wildlife, Victor knows first hand the importance of species preservation and land conservation. And as a pioneer in eco-tourism, he knows that, sometimes, exploring new paths is the best way to reach our goals.




TLCV would like to thank Victor Emanuel for both his leadership and his friendship. We appreciate his call to Texans to join TLCV as we take our fight for the environment to the ballot box. If you're not already a member, please join TLCV today!

There's only one Texas. Help TLCV stand up for it.

Friends, the time has come for me to move on as Executive Director of the Texas League of Conservation Voters. Now that the legislative session has concluded, and the League's programs are off to a good start for the summer - including welcoming two outstanding new summer interns, Brian Kates and Patrick Moore - I've decided to move on, spending time this summer travelling and spending time with my family.

It's been an honor and privilege for me to serve the League this past year, and I've especially enjoyed getting to know the League's friends and supporters. I have every confidence that you, together with the League's board of directors and Interim Director Lize Burr (formerly Coordinator of the Alliance for a Clean Texas), will continue to accomplish great things holding our officials accountable for Texas' clean air, clean water and clean energy.

Please keep up the good work. Remember to vote for the environment, and please keep doing all you can to protect what's best about Texas for future generations.

Imagine a bright future for Texas. Healthy families thriving with a high quality of life. Enough clean air, clean water and affordable clean energy for everybody. Believe it or not, I think that's a future many legislators in Austin want to help bring about. Alas, the current legislative session is almost over -- and may not accomplish much more -- but the hard work of creating our future is just getting started.

Thanks to folks like you, the Texas League of Conservation Voters is becoming a powerhouse for the advancement of a bright future for Texas. During the last election, we won most of the races we endorsed because of your hard work and support.

As the legislature concludes we are getting ready to put together our legislative score card -- the gold standard of Texas conservation accountability -- and getting ready for the 2010 election cycle. We need more everyday Texans to help out.

Forgive the baseball reference, but you're up to bat. In order for us to get our job done, we invite you to become a Major League Player in Texas.

When you sign up to becomes a Major League Player with the Texas League, you are signing up to give a small, recurring, long term to help ensure we have the resources we need to widely distribute our legislative scorecard, support pro-conservation champions, and ensure the League has the resources it needs achieve our mission.

Do you have what it takes to become a Major League Player?

Any donation of $5, $10, $15, $25, or anything else you are able to give every month will make you a Major League Player for TLCV.

We know times are tough, and that is why we value every dollar you can give to make sure Texans have the tools we need to win a brighter future.

Sign up today and make sure you can help us win more pro-conservation champions in the Texas Legislature -- or a brighter future.

Thanks for all you do and thanks for considering my invitation to become a TLCV Major League Player.

Our friend Lize Burr from the Alliance for a Clean Texas is informing all of us of an urgent action.

Great news! Senator Watson's SB 541 has been placed on the Senate intent calendar and will soon be on the Senate floor. This bill would establish a goal of 3,000 mega watts of renewable energy, a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the state. The commitment in SB 541 to solar and other renewable energy is very much like the commitment made to wind in 1999. This bill would pave the way for Texas to become the national leader in solar generation. (Today, Texas is ranked 9th in solar power generation, hard as that may be to believe.)

Please call your senator today and ask him or her to support SB 541.

SB 541 is one of two major renewable energy bills ACT supports this session. (The other bill, Senator Fraser’s SB 545, has been passed by the Senate and is now in the House Committee on Energy Resources.) Passing both bills is essential to making Texas the national leader in solar energy. SB 541 would establish solar and other renewable energy on a utility scale, as was done for wind in 1999. SB 545 would establish a statewide goal for distributed generation such as rooftop solar - an essential component to making Texas the leader in the booming solar manufacturing industry.

With time running out on the 81st Session, we need to take action today:

Please contact your senator and urge her or him to support SB 541. Texas is blessed with the natural resources to be the national leader in solar and other renewable energy, just as we are with wind. Remind her or him that Texas needs to make the strongest commitment to solar and other renewable energy to become the national leader in this emerging industry. By passing both SB 541 and SB 545, Texas will continue to be the nation's foremost energy innovator.

Thank you for your advocacy for renewable energy in our state and for everything you do to make Texas a cleaner, healthier place to live.

For further information on renewable energy, please visit the ACT website:
http://www.acttexas.org/issues/renewables

Our friends at Environment Texas have startling news. A deal to create funding to maintain our Texas parks and beaches has fallen apart because of the Texas Oil and Gas Association.

Rep. Allan Ritter proposed legislation that would have called for a modest increase on the fees on oil loaded or unloaded inside Texas ports by a mere $0.0066. While the fee is a near inconsequential amount for companies that are seeing ever increasing profits, the small increase would have funded beach erosion programs and indirectly funded efforts to protect our state's natural heritage and preserve state parks.

According to Environment Texas, a parliamentary trick was used by TexOGA ally Rep. Warren Chisum, which forced Rep. Ritter to pull down his bill. So once again Texas beaches may suffer because of the Oil Lobby..

Now, it's up to the members of the budget conference committee (Senators Steve Ogden, Juan Hinojosa, Tommy Williams, Florence Shapiro, Royce West and Representatives Jim Pitts, Richard Raymond, John Otto, Ruth Jones McClendon, John Zerwas) to find the funding.

Labels: Earth Day 2009

We are already working towards making next year's Earth Day better for every Texan.

On May 6th we are throwing a fundraising event to honor the pro-conservation class of 2009 and we are using this time to begin raising money for the Texas League of Conservation Voters Political Action Committee.

Simply, this event will be a time to honor our conservation champions and also begin the long process of laying the groundwork to make sure there is a pro-conservation majority in the Texas House and Senate!

With your help and support we can preserve our Texas heritage and keep Texas a special place for future generations.

Tickets to the May 6th reception start at $50, but if you can't attend or make a donation of $50, please feel free to celebrate this Earth Day with a donation of any size to the Texas League of Conservation Voters today!

Every dollar you give goes directly to electing environmental leaders. What better way to celebrate Earth Day?

Thank for everything you do!

Please Join Us as we
Honor the Pro-Conservation Class of 2009

Wednesday, May 6th
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Home of Gary Lee Ewell and Teresa Oppedal
2313 Woodlawn Boulevard

You can help pass good environmental laws in Texas by supporting the League's work electing pro-conservation leaders to the legislature and holding them accountable for clean air, clean energy and green jobs.

The Board of Directors invites you to a special fundraising reception honoring freshman members of the Texas House and Senate elected in November with the League's endorsement:

Sen. Wendy Davis (Fort Worth)
Rep. Carol Kent (Richardson)
Rep. Diana Maldonado (Round Rock)
Rep. Robert Miklos (Mesquite)
Rep. Joe Moody (El Paso)
Rep. Kristi Thibaut (Alief)
Rep. Chris Turner (Arlington)

(Legislators' attendance subject to Capitol business)

Sponsorships and Tickets can be purchased securely online.
(to be listed as a sponsor in event materials, please respond by May 1st)

The Texas Legislature concludes its session in a few short weeks. After electing a number of new pro-conservation champions last November, we've focused on getting legislators to address the most important environmental issues facing our state: investing the surplus to create green jobs, cleaning up Texas air quality, making Texas a renewable energy leader, and protect what's best about Texas for future generations. Our legislative scorecard, forthcoming late summer or fall, helps Texas voters choose better conservation leadership.

Your help, through your gift in support of our event, provides the resources we need to save the Texas environment one politician at a time. Please give generously and join us on the 6th, and thanks for all you do.

Questions? Need more information? Call us at (512) 477-4424 or e-mail at TLCV@TLCV.org

Labels: cement kiln, cement plant, Commissioner Bryan Shaw, midlothian, TCEQ, TXI

There's a lot of local races going on in Texas for elections to city councils, for mayors, and more.

This week in Austin, there's an exciting event scheduled. The environmental elections forum is April 9th beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the city council chambers at City Hall. Here are the details and some background:

From before its founding over 170 years ago, Austin has attracted outsiders and retained its native citizens due largely to its natural beauty and diverse setting straddling the Texas Hill Country and the Blackland Prairie to the East. But preserving our environmental heritage has never been easy and has always required the committed struggle of the citizenry.

Will Austin remain a green, livable city tomorrow? Only if Austinites take the initiative today to protect our environmental heritage.

Join us at the Combined Environmental Mayoral/City Council Forum on April 9 to ensure that voters select the candidates best suited to protect and preserve Austin's environmental inheritance. For further details and to view responses to our candidate questionnaire, please click here.

2009 Combined Environmental Mayoral/City Council Forum
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers

5:30pm: Reception + Intro
6:00pm-6:30pm: Place 6 (Cole (I) vs. Osemene)
6:35pm-7:05pm: Place 1 (Riley vs. Cavazos)
7:10pm-7:40pm: Place 2 (Martinez (I) vs. Quintero)
7:45pm-7:55pm: Place 5 (Spelman)
8:00pm-9:00pm: Mayor

Refreshments will be served.

Brought to you by the following groups:

American Youthworks, Austin Metro Trails and Greenways, Austin Permaculture Guild, Austin EcoNetwork, Central Texas Zero Waste Alliance, Citizen Gardner, Clean Water Action, Environment Texas, League of Bicycling Voters, OHPEN, PODER, Public Citizen, Save Barton Creek Association, Save Our Springs Alliance, Sierra Club, Austin Chapter, SEED Coalition, Solar Austin, Sustainable Food Center, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Texas Climate Emergency Campaign, Texas Environmental Democrats, Texas Green Network

Special kudos to Robin Schneider of the Texas Campaign for the Environment for bringing all this together. Austin - hope to see y 'all on Wednesday!

Labels: austin city conucil

Here's more on the State Board of Education and science standards.

Op-ed in the Austin American Statesman by Jim Marston: "Texas, the Science Free Zone."

No, this isn't an April Fool's Day joke.

Labels: climate change, state board of education, textbook standards

Labels: climate change, don mcleroy, hooey, state board of education, textbook standards

Labels: solar day; renewable portfolio standard

Last weekend I visited a ranch in the Hill Country between Kerrville and Fredericksburg. The rancher showed me little green and orange flags marking out where power lines are about to be built across a corner of his land. "We're going to be ranching electricity, now!" he proclaimed -- allowing power lines to be built across your land comes with some financial compensation.

Then today, a press release came out from the companies that will be building power lines, transmitting wind power generated in West Texas to major urban centers like Austin. The release says that workers in Haltom City will assemble the metal lattices for the transmission towers from steel produced by workers in Jewett. Rep. Granger was on hand for the announcement in Fort Worth:

"This is a homegrown project that will provide good jobs here in Texas. Best of all, everything about the project is designed with environmental concerns in mind. Every transmission tower on this project will represent another step on the way to energy independence."



If the steel is manufactured in a way that doesn't pollute too much, this is an example of the kinds of jobs and the kinds of economic activity that will be created as Texas becomes a renewable energy economy. Here now is what some of the 'green jobs' of the future will look like: ranchers harvesting a new kind of "crop," steelworkers building new infrastructure, workers in different parts of Texas all playing a part.


This is a real world example leaders and legislators can keep in mind right now as they consider proposals to support our renewable energy industries, to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, and to improve air quality - and thereby public health generally - by reducing emissions from polluting industries.

Labels: clean energy future, green economy, green-collar jobs, renewable energy, wind energy

Labels: reenergize texas summit, youth

From a press release from the Texas Conservation Alliance on Thursday:

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday affirmed the July 2008 decision by Judge Jorge A. Solis in favor of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge. The City of Dallas and the Texas Water Development Board had filed suit hoping to overturn creation of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge and make way for a reservoir Dallas predicts might be needed in fifty years. Instead, Judge Solis upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2006 creation of the refuge.

"This is wonderful news!" said Janice Bezanson, executive director of Texas Conservation Alliance. "The Neches River Refuge is exceptional wildlife habitat - one of the most important wildlife areas left in Texas. Thousands of Texans wrote letters or signed petitions in support of its creation."





Echoing Janet's quote, above, TLCV Executive Director James Canup said today, "Assuring adequate clean water resources for Texas cities and Texas wildlife is one of the most important challenges facing our state. This ruling from the 5th Circuit is the right decision and it sends the right message: before we build more lakes and reservoirs that destroy habitat and take private land, we should make sure we're doing all we can to conserve existing water resources."


"Thanks to the Court's ruling, Texas kids for generations to come will be able to enjoy a natural, scenic Neches River," he added.

Labels: national wildlife refuge, neches river, texas conservation alliance

Labels: air pollution, cattle, emissions

Every day at the capitol, lobbyists and special interests are asking legislators to "say 'no' to..." something. Say no to toll roads. Say no to higher utility bills. Say no to certain kinds of federal stimulus spending. It would be understandable for our elected officials to be looking around for something - anything - better that they can say "yes" to.

They could probably say "yes" to bills that bring Texans a return on their investment. They could say "yes" to bills that protect private land, to new ideas that build a positive future for our state, that direct federal stimulus funds in ways that contribute to the economic development of Texas communities without creating undue burdens on future taxpayers. They could say "yes," in other words, to any number of proposals that strengthen Texas' economic foundation, create jobs now, and build the economic engines that will power our economy forward in the future without a broad expansion of government into people's private lives.

Proposals like the common-sense ones supported by the Texas League of Conservation Voters.

The League's backing the legislative agenda developed by a range of conservation, public health and environmental organizations that, like us, are part of the Alliance for a Clean Texas. Organizations like the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, Texas Impact, Public Citizen and Environment Texas, among many others.

Today, legislators, instead of saying "no" once again, consider saying "yes" to:

Smart Growth policies at TxDOT that help prioritize creating multiple transit options versus toll roads.

A better Environmental Division at TxDOT, prohibiting land acquisition new roadways until an environmental impact study is completed.

More renewable power options - not just wind, but solar - and generation goals - not just continued dependence on coal-fired power plants.

Improve the energy efficiency of appliances and buildings, and help Texans weatherize their homes to save energy and save money.

Take steps to improve our air quality. Bad air is increasingly affecting Texas' ability to compete nationally and globally on luring business to our state. The longer we wait to improve our air quality, the more it will cost in the long run, the more economic advantages we'll lose out on to other, cleaner parts of the nation, and the longer children and families have to suffer from the health impacts of bad air quality, including high rates of asthma.

Pass "no regrets" legislation that finds out how Texas - by spending absolutely nothing - take some basic steps to address climate change.

Require television manufacturers to take back old TVs so that they don't overfill landfills with toxic metals, and so that Texans don't have to bear the cost of disposal themselves.

See, that isn't so difficult. These seem like real proposals that Texans, and Texas legislators, can say "yes" to.

And these are precisely the kinds of bills, if they come before the full House and Senate, the League will look at really closely as we assess which votes will count in our post-session 2009 Legislative Scorecard.

Labels: 2009 legislative scorecard, 81st Texas Legislature, legislative agenda

How many circles of freeways does Houston need around its girth? One more, according to TXDOT's stimulus spending priorities. The idea of a "Grand Parkway," nearabouts 180 miles long, circling the Houston area way out beyond 610 or Sam Houston or Beltway 8.

A number of environmental and conservation groups oppose the Grand Parkway and want stimulus transportation funds devoted more to transit and less towards road construction.

Texas has to strike a balance between adding more roads, which in some cases are needed and in other cases just spur further sprawl and counteract attempts to create liveable cities, and investing in sound transit options like local rail, high speed rail connecting major Texas cities, and removing freight trains from tracks bisecting our big cities.

Meanwhile, the Houston Press says that Houston's green building program, ranked 3rd in the nation for number of green projects, may not be as good as it looks. The Press says other cities just aren't reporting their greenness as well as Houston does.

Let's take our good news however we can get it: whether Houston is really #3, or just looks that way because it reported the statistics, it means a lot to say that, in Texas where we are notorious the world over for our energy consumption and pollution output, the City of Houston is doing what it can to help.

Here's to tipping the balance from more far-flung suburban loop roads towards a vibrant city with lots of transit options and a healthy number of buildings that help address our air quality and energy consumption problems!

Labels: grand parkway, green buildings, houston

Are you driving around with a naked bumper? Let us help fix your bumper woes.

Did you know that one bumper sticker can be seen by over 10,000 people per year? Imagine 10,000 people seeing your support for preserving our Texas heritage and environment every year. Imagine the impact your bumper can make.

To help turn this into a reality we are giving away one of two limited edition bumper stickers.

You can tell everyone your car sees that you support the Texas League of Conservation voters, and about your desire to "Hunt, Fish, Vote" or "Camp, Hike, Vote."

All we need is your name, address and an e-mail address and the first bumper sticker is on us. Want to spread the message and give your friends and family we are asking for a small donation of $5 for 5 bumper stickers, $10 for 15, or a modest $20 for 30.

You can sign up to get your free bumper sticker here or make a small donation for a bulk purchase.

Make your car green by adding one of our original bumper stickers today.

Our supplies are limited so please make a donation today and tell everyone why you are a part of the Texas League of Conservation Voter.

Are you sure one is enough? Our bumper stickers also look great on:

• Bicycles!
• Trucks!
• Refrigerators!
• Store windows!
• Bulletin boards!

Get your bumper sticker or stickers today!

Labels: Bumper Stickers

Last week, the League and our partners in the Alliance for a Clean Texas sponsored a successful citizen lobby day.

Thank you to the dozens of Texans who traveled to the capitol to tell legislators to create the green collar, clean energy jobs that will make sure Texas is the energy leader for decades to come.

Participants also attended the Texas Energy Future conference, and heard keynote Van Jones's remarks about building a green economy that includes everybody.

Here's a video excerpt of Van Jones's speech from our friends over at Texas Impact.

Labels: van jones

Last week we sat down with one of our newly elected pro-conservation leaders, Joe Moody. We talked about the recently closed Asarco plant, Franklin Mountain State Park, and what the League means for Rep. Moody.


This is the first in a series of videos with other elected officials. We will make sure to put all of our videos on our brand new YouTube channel. Also, if you have a Representative or Senator you would like us to sit down with, let us know in the comments.

Labels: asarco, el paso, franklin mountain state park, joe moody

Today dozens and dozens of volunteers from throughout the state of Texas converge on our state capitol building for the Alliance for a Clean Texas Lobby Day. Hoping to advance a legislative agenda of clean energy, clean air and green collar jobs for Texas, volunteer lobbyists will visit their senators and representatives and ask them to support good bills that make Texas better.

Last evening, the volunteers gathered in a church fellowship hall near the University of Texas campus for training, hearing lobbying tips and advice from leaders of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, Environmental Defense Fund, Texas Impact, Environment Texas, Public Citizen the SEED Coalition and Texas Campaign for the Environment, among others.

The League's James Canup administered an oath of office to citizen lobbyists last night: "I (state your name) solemnly swear or affirm that I will conserve, protect and defend the Texas environment."

Not every Texan has the time or the means to travel to Austin and tell legislators what they think. Conservationists should give thanks to the voters who've volunteered for Lobby Day, and, using their example as a guide, take action when you can to protect and conserve the Texas environment. Step one is signing up to receive email alerts from the League - there's a place to do just that in the left hand column of your screen.

Labels: Alliance for a Clean Texas, citizen lobby day

Labels: Rick Perry, thank you

For geeks like us, who not only want to understand the importance of fresh, clean water to Texans, to Texas agriculture, wildlife, wetlands, fishers, swimmers, boaters and surfers, but also to understand the threats to our water and what can be done to assure enough H20 for the future, TPWD's documentary film is a fantastic resource. Plus, it is pretty gorgeous. Lots of images of natural beauty, tree lined rivers, verdant wetlands, etc., etc.

A number of good friends of the League and the Texas environment showed up as well. This ain't a complete list, but we spied Ken Kramer of the Lone Star Sierra Club, Myron Hess of the National Wildlife Federation, and Mary Kelly of the Environmental Defense Fund (who almost stole the show from the rivers and animals with her comments about balancing energy and water needs, and positive message right at the end)... the list goes on.

Check out the website for a preview if you missed it on TV, and a chance to order the DVD. No doubt this rave review, plus others, will encourage Texas PBS stations to rerun the documentary, say every night until the end of the Legislative session? Well, we can hope, right?

Everyone wants the water we've got. Every river and waterway has more than enough straws sucking out the water, and enough water needs to make it to the wetlands on the Gulf to sustain those vital and sensitive ecosystems.

The big takeaways from the film: we can't meet future water needs by doing nothing; we can't build our way out of water crises simply by building more dams; but a little bit 'o conservation (of energy and of water) makes everything possible.

To that end, the folks up in Dallas area (and elsewhere) could take the folks in San Antonio as a guide: Dallas uses a lot more water per capita than San Antonio, mostly watering the grass.

Labels: dallas water usage, water conservation, Water; Texas the state of water

Just a couple of hours ago, an announcement was made about the membership and leadership of Committees in the Texas House.

Following is a listing of committee members and their scores on the 2007 TLCV Legislative Scorecard.

Environmental Regulations Committee (Average Score: 67%*)
Chair Byron Cook 31%
Vice Chair Warren Chisum 28%
Lon Burnam 100%
Jim Dunnam 100%
Jessica Farrar 87%
Kelly Hancock 28%
Ken Legler n/a
Marc Veasey 96%
Randy Weber NA

Energy Resources Committee (Average Score 50%)
Chair - Jim Keffer 35%
Vice Chair - Myra Crownover 23%
Joe Crabb 35%
Rick Hardcastle 22%
Tom Craddick n/a (the former speaker was not a member of any committees last session)
David Farabee 52%
Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles 89%
Tara Rios Ybarra n/a (elected November 2008)
Mark Strama 93%

Natural Resources Committee (Average Score 52%)
Chair Allan Ritter 44%
Vice Chair Bill Callegari 31%
Frank Corte 36%
Tracy King 55%
Trey Martinez Fischer 92%
John Smithee 33%
Brandon Creighton 32%
Stephen Frost 72%
Jodie Laubenberg 35%
Eddie Lucio, III 92%
Doug Miller n/a (elected November 2008)

State Affairs Committee (Average Score 55%)
Chair - Burt Solomons 29%
VC - Jose Menendez 77%
Tom Craddick n/a (the former speaker was not a member of committees in the last session)
Pete Gallego 100%
Harvey Hilderbran 30%
Rene Oliveira 100%
David Swinford 31%
Sylvester Turner 59%
Byron Cook 31%
David Farabee 52%
Charlie Geren 31%
Patricia Harless 25%
Delwin Jones 52%
Eddie Lucio III 92%
Diana Maldonado n/a (elected November 2008)

Land and Resource Management Committee (Average Score 52%)
Chair Dennis Bonnen 28%
Vice Chair Jessica Farrar 87%
Rob Orr 26%
Carol Alvarado n/a
Valinda Bolton 96%
Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton 35%
Mike Homer 58%
Ken Paxton 31%
Kristi Thibaut n/a (elected November 2008)

Transportation Committee (Average Score 51%)
Chair Joe Pickett 38%
Vice Chair Larry Phillips 44%
William "Bill" Callegari 31%
Yvonna Davis 96%
Tommy Merritt 38%
Todd Smith 26%
Jim Dunnam 100%
Ryan Guillen 56%
Linda Harper Brown 30%
Ruth Jones McClendon 80%
Wayne Smith 23%

Business and Industry (Average Score 48%)
Chair Joe Deshotel 52%
Vice Chair Gary Elkins 26%
Wayne Christian 27%
Dan Gattis 43%
Sid Miller 31%
Kirk England 69%
Helen Giddings 79%
Jim Keffer 35%
Rob Orr 26%
Chente Quintanilla 80%
Sylvester Turner 59%

County Affairs Committee (Average Score 59%) NEW! Added 02-14-09
Chair Garnet Coleman 100%
Vice Chair Geanie Morrison 27%
John E. Davis 41%
Wayne Smith 23%
Leo Berman 31%
Valinda Bolton 96%
Joaquin Castro 92%
Marisa Marquez n/a
Ralph Sheffield n/a

The League will have additional commentary on committees, committee chairs and committee membership in the coming days. Keep up with the latest from the League here at www.tlcv.org/blog.

* Average scores don't include any scores for newly elected Reps nor for former Speaker Craddick. It's expected that new Reps could increase the average scores for their committees, and Rep. Craddick may drag them down.

Labels: Texas House Committees

Folks, the link to our 2007 Legislative Scorecard isn't working today for some reason. While the tech folks try to fix it, I've uploaded a PDF of the 2007 scorecard below:

TLCV%20scorecard_2007.pdf

My sincere apologies for the problem.

Labels: 2007 legislative scorecard

Preservation Texas lists the ten Most Endangered Places again this year. In addition to historic buildings, including the Governor's Mansion and the Secorro Mission Rectory in El Paso, three places on the list are significant for environmentalists and conservationists.


Hamiliton Pool: "Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural feature in southwest Travis County upstream from the confluence of Hamilton Creek and the Pedernales River. The pool occurs where Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings, creating a 50-foot waterfall that plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. The waterfall never completely dries up though it slows to a trickle in dry times.

"Hamilton Pool Preserve is suffering from its own popularity as a recreational destination as well as from minimal regulation and increased suburban development. In May 2007, Hamilton Pool and Hamilton Creek suffered major silt and erosion runoff during the construction of a residential subdivision upstream. The damage to Hamilton Pool, Davis Creek, Cripple Creek, Hamilton Creek and 10 unnamed tributaries in the surrounding area has been devastating."


The Strand in Galveston: "Galveston Island is a city known for its wealth of nineteenth and twentieth-century architecture. The Strand/Mechanic Historic District is among the island's most significant collection of architecture, with more than 45 buildings in 12 blocks of significant architectural merit. This district, whose buildings date to the 1850s, has stood resilient to the point of heroic defiance though economic and natural disasters.


"On September 13, 2008, Galveston Island took a direct hit from Hurricane Ike. The streets and buildings in the Strand/Mechanic District were inundated with seawater, oil and debris. The buildings were immersed in up to 13 feet of water, which obliterated interiors and swamped mechanical systems. High winds damaged roofs. Water stood in these structures for more than two days, seeping into irreparable historic fabrics. Galveston urgently needs and deserves a renaissance."


Scenic Loop - Boerne Stage Corridor: "Located at the base of the Hill Country, Scenic Loop Road is a winding byway that was created as a scenic touring route for San Antonians in the 1920s. The Scenic Loop was originally 46.3 miles roundtrip from downtown San Antonio and was built to connect with the Boerne Stage Road. At that point, the Road turns north and continues as Boerne Stage Road to the Balcones Creek at the Kendall County Line
The history of the area spans several thousands of years. A drive along the route reveals evidence of prehistoric sites, nineteenth-century rock structures, historic ranches and farms, abundant wildlife habitat and the Old Spanish Trail.

"After nearly a century of sprawl, the remaining scenic and historic route is about a fifth of its original distance, totally about 10 miles. The residents fought the widening of the loop in 1985, and they continue to oppose adjacent development. However, as the site is outside of San Antonio's jurisdiction, developers have few regulations and are free to clear-cut properties or dynamite hills. After nearly a century of sprawl, the remaining scenic and historic route is still very much in danger."


That these sites of environmental importance are on the list is significant.


Truly, the protection and restoration of historic buildings and places is extremely important in order for Texans to have any connections with our past. But it strikes us at the League as uncommon for environmental sites - a threatened spring-fed pool, a downtown business district eviscerated by an environmental disaster of a magnitude still being assessed, and a roadway connecting a major city to the Hill Country - to receive such notice from historic preservationists.


Preservation Texas is right - these places are at risk and all need to be preserved. But especially, the three environmental ones are extremely timely and relevant. The message Preservation Texas seems to be sending is that it's not just historical buildings where our priceless heritage can reside - but also the natural places and those impacted by natural disasters made worse by environmental degradation.
Each day, future generations lose a little bit more of their heritage because of unencumbered development, poor land use and neglect. Those who struggle to clean up the Texas environment generally -- improving air quality, conserving water and generating clean power, for example -- need these magnificent environmental sites as touchstones of our heritage.

The League applauds Preservation Texas for including environmental sites on its most endangered list.

Labels: boerne stage corridor, hamilton pool, historic preservation, most endangered list, preservation texas, the strand

Labels: documentary, PBS, TPWD, Water; Texas the state of water

This legislative session, the Texas Department of Transportation is up for "sunset" review. Additionally, a number of legislators will bring proposals to change the way TxDOT operates. That means that Texas conservationists have opportunities to influence elected officials to increase TxDOT's accountability with regard to environmental issues.

Here are some environmental values that should become priorities for TxDOT:

Labels: citizen lobby day, TxDOT

The coalition Cities Aggregation Power Project, made up of more than 100 towns and cities (from Rockwall to Decatur, Texas City to Arlington), says that energy deregulation in Texas hasn't reduced power costs to consumers - it has raised them.

Generating (pardon the expression) statewide media attention, the Cities coalition released an extensive report detailing the impact of ten years of deregulation on Texas. Here are some highlights from the 82-page report (link is to a PDF version from the CAPP website):

* Texans have gone from having rates lower than the national average before deregulation to higher than the national average afterward.
* Enron, which was a big power player (again, apologies for the expression) in politics in Texas at the time, was responsible for much of the structure of the deregulated industries and creator of the problems Texans now face with regard to their electric bills.
* ERCOT has troubles managing Texas' grid.
* Infrastructure costs from creating renewable energy generation could contribute to higher prices in the future.

The League thinks the cities are right for the most part. Especially during a time of economic uncertainty, the higher electric bills caused by deregulation are a tough pill for Texas consumers to swallow.

Yet at the same time, the investment in infrastructure for renewable power generation - from solar, wind, etc. - is critically important to the future of the Texas economy and for the jobs needed in Texas today.

The challenge for elected officials - from mayors to the Legislature to the governor - is to create a system whereby Texas can increase the amount of renewable power we generate WITHOUT passing an undue amount of the burden of the cost of building it along to consumers, especially low income consumers.

There doesn't have to be a conflict between clean energy and low utility bills. With true leadership from Washington, Austin and cities across Texas - and with key partnerships with enlightened (pardon the expression again) power generators - Texans can have power that comes from the sun or the wind, not from dirty coal, at a cost that Texans can afford.

Especially with some help from the federal stimulus package....

Labels: deregulation, Texas cities coalition

Labels: Alliance for a Clean Texas, citizen lobby day

Labels: senator cornyn, senator hutchison, state parks, state wildlife grants, texas parks and wildlife department

We heard it on the Texas Observer blog first: the Asarco copper smelter is closed for good and it isn't coming back!

Asarco has been polluting El Paso for generations, making kids sick and leaving a horrible mess behind.

Yesterday it was announced in the El Paso Times: "Asarco LLC has informed the Texas Commission on Environmental that it does not plan to reopen its copper smelter in El Paso, company officials announced Tuesday....The decision is based on the dramatic downturn of the world economy in the last six months...."

The Observer goes on to say that Asarco leaves behind a site extremely contaminated and which will have to be remediated at great cost. Yet an editorial in today's El Paso Times commends Asarco for promises it has made to help clean up the site. Quoting an Asarco honcho, the editorial includes: " ... We also want to assure the community that we're working to ensure
that our property is left in a condition that will be an asset to a great community that we have." Let's hold Asarco to that assurance.

Today, though, we should celebrate: Asarco is dead!

Tomorrow, Texans should begin to confront the issues related to cleaning the place up, an effort the Sierra Club says could cost more than $100 million.

For far too long, Asarco has been not just a blight but an actual hazard to public health in El Paso. The closing is tremendous good news for El Paso. The lack of a giant smelter belching carcinogens near downtown will create opportunities for dramatic improvements to one of Texas' largest cities. Here's hoping that El Paso can use the closing to help stimulate all kinds of sustainable economic growth.

Notably, Asarco says the nail in the coffin was the economic downturn. Years of work by environmental activists, community leaders and public officials couldn't slay the bear; it took an economic crisis. With real leadership - such as that of El Paso's Senator Eliot Shapleigh and newly elected State Rep Joe Moody - and with proper stimulus, in a few years El Paso could have a real community asset instead - one which creates real jobs, contributes to the community and builds a stronger metropolis at the critically important Texas-Mexico-New Mexico border.

Labels: asarco, el paso, eliot shapleigh, joe moody

Pardon the pun, but is Texas on track to have high speed rail service between major cities? Could be. Even Governor Perry thinks so. The Star-Telegram editorializes...

Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation has a website all about it, where they list a "legislative caucus" including bipartisan members of the Texas House and Senate.

Getting folks out of cars (and off of I-35 and I-45) and onto trains can improve Texas air quality by removing polluting, largely single-passenger vehicles off of congested roadways.

Labels: high speed rail, Rick Perry, thsrtc

This fine Friday, the Texas League just has a couple of things to update y'all about:

Thank you Rep. Joe Farias!

Rep. Farias successfully amended House Bill 2 - the bill that sets the Texas House of Representatives' rules for the current session - to encourage more recycling at the capitol. In this case, he's talking about recycling paper and cutting down fewer trees to keep the capitol awash in paper. Leading by example, and thanks to Rep. Farias, the Texas Legislature will show Texas businesses that you can reduce the amount of paper you use, save money and save resources.

Rep. Farias earned an A+ on the League's last legislative scorecard (which you can read online - no paper! - here).

View the new release from Rep. Joe Farias here: Farias%20Release%20-%20Rules%20Amendment%20-%20January%2029%202009.pdf


The League Thanks President Obama and Ms. Carol Browner

The Texas League of Conservation Voters and more than 325 other conservation and environmental groups have together signed a letter thanking the President and Ms. Browner for their commitments to safeguard wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of climate change.

Here's the text of the letter and the full list of signers. Cool, huh?


On behalf of the following conservation groups and our millions of members across the country, we want to thank President Obama for his campaign commitment to safeguard wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of global warming.

Natural resources are the backbone of public health and the American economy. Healthy natural systems provide clean water, clean air and protect communities from catastrophic weather-related disasters, ranging from hurricanes to floods to forest fires. Outdoor recreation, which is based on our nation's natural environment and includes hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities, contributes a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.), and stimulates 8 percent of all consumer spending, according to The Outdoor Foundation. The economic value of the natural environment is far higher when the vast range of ecosystem services is also included; conservative estimates tally these benefits at trillions of dollars annually. Given the grave threats posed by global warming, investing in our natural resources today will provide huge economic benefits for generations.

Safeguarding natural resources, oceans, wildlife populations and the people that rely on these resources is also a moral issue. The United States has an historic opportunity to help sustain today's unsurpassed natural legacy for our children and grandchildren, but we will need to invest in our natural resources if they are to survive a changing climate.

We applaud the following commitment President Obama made during the campaign in his energy plan regarding how a cap-and-trade program should be implemented:

"A small portion of the receipts generated by auctioning allowances will be used... to provide new funding to state and federal land and wildlife managers to restore habitat, create wildlife migration corridors, and assist fish and wildlife to adapt to the effects of a warming climate."

We further applaud the reiteration of this position in President Obama's Plan to Support the Rights and Traditions of Sportsmen.

We look forward to working with you, the full Obama Administration and the incoming Congress to accomplish our shared goal of protecting wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of global warming.

Sincerely,

National Organizations

Access Fund
American Canoe Association
American Fisheries Society
American Hiking Society
American Lands Alliance
American Littoral Society
American Rivers
American Whitewater
American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog
Association
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Boone & Crockett Club
Conservation Force
Defenders of Wildlife
Ducks Unlimited
Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation
Earthjustice
Endangered Species Coalition
Environmental Defense Fund
Federation of Flyfishers
Gaia Global Consulting
HuntingLife.com
International Mountain Bicycling
Association
Izaak Walton League of America
Land Trust Alliance
National Audubon Society
National Parks Conservation Association
National Wildlife Federation
Nature Abounds
Ocean Conservancy
Oceana
Outdoor Alliance
Outdoor Industry Association
Pheasants Forever
Quail Forever
Quail Unlimited
Restore America’s Estuaries
Sierra Club
The Nature Conservancy
The Organization of Wildlife Planners
The Ruffed Grouse Society
The Trust for Public Land
The Wilderness Society
The Wildlife Society
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation
Partnership
Trout Unlimited
Waterkeeper Alliance
Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Management Institute
Winter Wildlands Alliance
World Wildlife Fund
Xerces Society for Invertebrate
Conservation


Regional and Local Organizations

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Alaska Conservation Alliance
Alaska SeaLife Center
Alaska Wildlife Alliance
Albemarle Environmental Association
Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society
American Sportsmen Against Poachers
Animal Protection of New Mexico
Animal Protection Voters
Appalachian Mountain Club
Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Arizona Ecumenical Council Earth Care
Commission
Arizona Wildlife Federation
Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Arkansas Trappers Association
Arkansas Wildlife Federation
Arrowhead Chapter Trout Unlimited
Association of Northwest Steelheaders
Atlanta Audubon Society
Au Sable Big Water Preservation
Association
Audubon New York
Audubon of Kansas
Audubon Ohio
Beech Creek Watershed Association
Bill Dvorak's Kayak and Rafting
Expeditions
Blue Ridge Forever Coalition
Boone Soil and Water Conservation
District
Briarpatch Conservation Club
Bushnell, Caplan & Fielding
Canton Studio
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
Cedar Bog Association
Center for Native Ecosystems
Central Mountains and Plains Section of
The Wildlife Society
Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout
Unlimited
Chichagof Conservation Council
Chickasaw County Conservation Board
Cienega Watershed Partnership
Citizens Against OLF
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Citizens Committee to Complete the
Refuge
Clark Fork Coalition
Colorado Conservation Trust
Columbiana County Federation of
Conservation Clubs
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Conservation Council for Hawai'i
Conservation Federation of Missouri
Conservation Northwest
Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc.
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
Delaware Audubon Society
Delaware Nature Society
Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited
East Ascension Sportsman's League
ECHO
Elkhorn Slough Foundation
Environment Council of Rhode Island
Environmental Advocates of New York
Environmental and Cultural
Conservation Organization
Environmental Association of St.
Thomas
Environmental League of Massachusetts
Ernest Schwiebert Chapter of Trout
Unlimited
Firelands Audubon Society
Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Florida Native Plant Society
Florida Turtle Conservation Trust
Florida Wildlife Federation
Food Conspiracy Co-op
Freshwater Future
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife
Refuges
Friends of Pondicherry
Friends of Pool 9, Upper Miss Refuge,
IN
Friends of Saguaro National Park
Gallatin Wildlife Association
Gates Au Sable Lodge
Georgia Wildlife Federation
Georgia Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Georgia River Network
Great Lakes Council of the Federation of
Fly Fishers
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
Greathorn Properties
Greenway Network, Inc.
Groundwater Awareness League
Gulf Restoration Network
Habitat and Wildlife Keepers
Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc.
Hawaii Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Heart of America Flyfishers
Hellgate Hunters and Anglers
High Country Citizens' Alliance
High Country Flies
High Sierra Rural Alliance
Hoosier Fly Fishers
Houston Audubon Society
Hutchinson Recreation Commission
Idaho Conservation League
Idaho Wildlife Federation
Indiana Wildlife Federation
Iowa Audubon
Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Iowa Environmental Council
Iowa Wildlife Federation
Izaak Walton League Michigan City
Chapter
Izaak Walton League of America
Pennsylvania Chapter
Izaak Walton League, Johnson County
Chapter
Jackson County Conservation Club
Joe Humphries Fly Fishing
Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Kansas Wildlife Federation
Keep Sedona Beautiful
Kindred Wild Life Club
Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental
Committee
Land Conservancy of Adams County
Lands Council
Las Vegas Flyfishing Club
League of Kentucky Sportsmen
League of Ohio Sportsmen
Lebanon Valley Conservancy
Lititz Run Watershed Association
Louisiana Wildlife Federation
Lynn Canal Conservation
Macbride Raptor Project
Maine Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Maryland/Delaware Chapter of The
Wildlife Society
Massachusetts Audubon
Matanuska Electric Ratepayers Alliance
Michigan United Conservation Clubs
Minnesota Conservation Federation
Mississippi Wildlife Federation
Missouri Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Missouri Environmental Education
Association
Missouri Master Naturalists –
Confluence Chapter
Missouri Smallmouth Alliance
Montana Audubon
Montana Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Montana Wildlife Federation
Moshannon Group, Sierra Club
National Wild Turkey Federation,
Georgia Chapter
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Natural Systems Solutions
Nebraska Wildlife Federation
Nevada Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Nevada Wildlife Federation
New England Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
New Hampshire Fish and Game
New Jersey Audubon Society
New Jersey Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
New Jersey Federation of Sportsman's
Clubs
New Mexico Wildlife Federation
New York Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
North Carolina Falconers Guild
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
Northeast Section of The Wildlife
Society
Northeast Wilderness Trust
Northern Alaska Environmental Center
Northern Forest Alliance
Northern Jaguar Project
Northwest Habitat Institute
Northwest River Guides
Northwest Sportfishing Industry
Association
Northwest Weed Management
Partnership
NorthWoods Stewardship Center
Ohio Bass Federation
Ohio Bird Conservation International
Ohio Environmental Council
Oregon Anglers
Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Oregon Council Trout Unlimited
Orion The Hunter Institute
Ozark Fly Fishers
Pacific Forest Trust
Passaic River Coalition
Pella Wildlife Company
Penns Creek Guides
Penns Valley Conservation Association
Pennsylvania Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Pennsylvania Forest Coalition
Planning and Conservation League
Prairie Rivers Network
Prescott College
Puerto Rico Ornithological Society
Quiet Use Coalition
Remington Arms Wildlife
Renewable Resources Coalition
Rio Grande Return
River Valley Wildlife Federation
Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative
Sacramento-Shasta Chapter of The
Wildlife Society
San Miguel Greens of Colorado
Santa Cruz River Alliance
Save Our Stream
Save the Manatee Club
Shaw Nature Reserve
Sheep Mountain Alliance
Sierra Forest Legacy
Sierra Nevada Conservation
Sierra Nevada Deep Ecology Institute
Silvertip Production
Sirius Ecovillage
Sky Island Alliance
South Carolina Wildlife Federation
South Dakota Wildlife Federation
Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen
Southwest Environmental Center
Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers
Space Coast Climate Initiative
Spring River Sportsman Club
St. Croix Environmental Association
St. Francis Lake Association
St. Petersburg Audubon Society
Stoney Creek Valley Coalition
Sugar Pine Foundation
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land
Conservancy
Tennessee Clean Water Network
Tennessee Environmental Council
Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Texas Conservation Alliance
Texas League of Conservation Voters
The Atlanta Fly Fishing School
The Conservation League of Puerto Rico
The Fyke Nature Association
The Hilltop Conservation Club, Inc.
The Rewilding Institute
The Wilderness Society - Alaska
Chapter
The Wildlands Network
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Tom Baltz Guide Service
Trout Unlimited of California
Tucson Audubon Society
Tumbling Creek Cave Foundation
U.S. Home Designs, Inc.
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Utah Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Utah Waterfowl Association
Valley Forge Chapter of Trout
Unlimited
Vermont Natural Resources Council
Virgin Islands Conservation Society
Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Virginia Conservation Network
Virginia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation
Virginia Teaming With Wildlife
Leadership Council
Wagner Conservation Coalition
Washington Wildlife Federation
Watershed Alliance of Adams County
Watershed Management Group
Wattensaw Bowhunters Association
Weatherby's Fisherman Resort
West Chester Fish, Game, and Wildlife
West Chester Gun Club
Westark Wildlife
Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper
Association
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Western Rivers Conservancy
Western Section of The Wildlife Society
White River Conservancy
Wild Connections
Wilderness Fly Fishers
Wildlife Center of Virginia
Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Wildwood/Mahonia
Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife
Society
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Wolf Creek Community Alliance
WyEast Expeditions
Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife
Society
Wyoming Wildlife Federation
Yell County Wildlife Federation
Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures
Youth Conservation Club – Lavaca High
School
Youth Conservation Club –Mansfield
High School

Labels: carol browner, climate change, president obama, recycling, rep. joe farias