This week the Sierra Club North Star Chapter released our Biennial Legislative Scorecard. Unfortunately, the results show that the last two years were dominated by an anti-science legislature that was more beholden to special interests than to the people and communities of Minnesota.
The scorecard identified 39 votes taken by State Representatives and Senators in 2011 and 2012. Scored votes reflect the broad range of concerns for Sierra Club members and volunteer leaders, including clean energy, transportation, forests and wetlands, and attempts to roll back Minnesota’s framework of environmental safeguards. A case in point: This fall, up to 400 of Minnesota’s gray wolves will be shot or trapped in the first wolf hunt we’ve had in decades. Nearly 15% of the population of this iconic species will be wiped out in a matter of months – not because there have been wolf attacks on humans, or because a hunt is necessary to control the population. In fact, the wolf will be hunted for no scientific reason at all, but because of a legislative mandate. Unfortunately, the wolf was not the only casualty of this legislature. Anti-environment majorities in St. Paul have steadfastly opposed measures prioritized by the North Star Chapter that would protect Minnesota’s environment and economy – including proposals to create homegrown, clean energy jobs that would help us break our dependence on foreign oil, and dirty coal. They’ve pursued disproportionate cuts to transit funding, threatening vital access to transportation for commuters and jobseekers statewide. And other provisions increase the threat to Minnesota’s lakes and forests from proposed sulfide mining in the Arrowhead region. Throughout, legislative leaders have been laser-focused on rolling back almost every important environmental protection on the books – protections you and I fought for – and that Minnesotans overwhelmingly support. So now it’s time for us to stand up for Minnesota! Get up to date on the issues we’ll be facing this spring at the capitol by signing up for our eSierra monthly email newsletter, and come out to our New Member and Volunteer night (second Tuesday of every month in the chapter office) to get involved. Finally, make sure to talk to your neighbors, friends, and family about why the environment matters to you! Our 2011-2012 Legislative Scorecard is now available for download atnorthstar.sierraclub.org/scorecard