League of Conservation Voters Hands Out Report Card

The League of Conservation Voters handed down a 60 percent grade to U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-Bayside, and 90 percent to Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-Forest Hills, in a new environmental scorecard that was released yesterday.

The group awarded a 100 percent rating to 17 of 28 members of Congress representing New York. The state’s two U.S. Senators also received perfect scores.

“Unfortunately, the most important votes of 2010 are the ones that didn’t happen,” League President Gene Karpinski said. “The Senate failed to even begin debate on a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill and also failed to respond to the greatest environmental disaster in our nation’s history – the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.”

The state’s Senators outscored the legislative body’s national average of 48 percent. Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., both received 100 percent scores.

House members representing New York scored an average of 88 percent. The national average was 57 percent.

Ackerman scored the lowest in Queens with 60 percent. His district covers Douglaston, Little Neck, Bayside, Corona, Flushing, Jamaica Estates, Whitestone and Floral Park as well as a number of Long Island communities.

Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-Bayside, sent this statement in the wake of The League of Conservation Voters' legislative scorecard, released yesterday: "I voted for and supported 100 percent of their agenda. I did not vote against anything they scored. (They scored several votes on the few times I was not on the floor, but supported)."

Weiner was given a 90 percent grade.  His district includes Forest Hills, Middle Village, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Ozone Park, Rockaway Beach, Rego Park and Howard Beach.

Five others who represent Queens were given 100 percent, including Joseph Crowley, D-Jackson Heights, Carolyn Maloney, D-Astoria, Gregory Meeks, D-Jamaica, Nydia Velazquez, D-Ridgewood, and Charles Rangel, D-Astoria.

Long Island’s Carolyn McCarthy, D-Garden City, was given a 100 percent rating, while Rep. Peter King, R-Massapequa Park, received a 10 percent.

The study graded members of the 111th Congress and only covered 2010.  The league based their scores on seven votes on top environmental issues in the Senate and 10 issues in the House.

Issues included wildlife conservation, clean energy and public health.