Maine Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan organization that works to turn your love of the state’s natural resources into the laws that protect them. We know that Maine’s environment is the keystone of the health and well-being of our communities and our economy. Our goal is to give you the information and tools you need to make important decisions for your family, community and future.
MCV uses the democratic process and sharp accountability tools to transform Maine’s environmental values into legislative priorities, and to make sure that our quality of life is protected by our decisions at the ballot box.
One of our accountability tools is a biennial Governor’s Report Card.
Sadly, at the midpoint of his four-year term, Gov. Paul LePage’s record of environmental policymaking has been a tremendous disappointment. LePage has put Maine’s natural resources and the long-term economic interests of the state at risk.
That’s why MCV gave LePage a “D.”
Ouch. We know that hurts. But it’s deserved. Here’s why:
• LePage opposed expansions to the e-waste recycling law, even though it has saved taxpayers more than $9.6 million and prevented more than 3.3 million pounds of lead and other toxic materials from entering our air and water.
• LePage sought to abolish the Kid-Safe Products Act, which limits our children’s exposure to toxic chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA), despite a University of Maine study showing that such exposure costs at least $380 million in health costs annually in the state.
• The governor has declined to support Maine’s energy efficiency programs, despite the fact that every $1 invested in energy efficiency saves at least $3 in energy costs. As a result, Maine businesses and households will spend more money on energy and have less money available to purchase goods and services that would help grow our economy.
• LePage refused to issue bonds passed by voters in 2009 that would help municipalities replace septic systems, upgrade wastewater treatment facilities and remove overboard discharge systems — all of which have a direct impact on water quality and human health.
And the list goes on. In fact, the governor’s original “regulatory reform” agenda contained more than 60 provisions to weaken or eliminate important environmental laws that were forged during years of bipartisan collaboration, a hallmark of Maine’s political system.
Why? Despite claims that his list of “regulatory reform” rollbacks was generated from community feedback, LePage’s draft proposal included an internal tracking number used by a law firm that lobbies for pharmaceutical companies, oil dealers and chemical manufacturers that stand to benefit from weaker environmental laws.
Under LePage’s “reform” agenda, Maine isn’t just open for business, it has become available to the highest bidder from away.
That’s why MCV gave LePage a “D”. While we appreciate some positive outcomes in the areas of land conservation, fisheries management and enforcement of existing environmental laws, his comprehensive assault on the state’s environment flies in the face of Maine values and undermines the long-term sustainability of our economy.
In the next two years, we encourage the governor to shift to a more productive policy agenda. We recommend investing in the Land for Maine’s Future program, lowering energy costs through energy efficiency, improving the health of our waters and restoring key forage fish, making children’s products safer by phasing out dangerous chemicals, and building local economies through the Farm-and-Fish-to-School program.
The door is open.
LePage has dismissed his grade and MCV’s suggestions by proclaiming that it “is known to be a politically motivated group.”
Actually, MCV could care less if our political leaders are Democrat or Republican, Green or independent. What we do care about is clean air, clean water, abundant wildlife and a healthy future for our families. We’re fighting for the Maine that you love, for “the way life should be.”
Are we political when it comes to the environment? You bet we are.
Leslie Harroun is the board president of Maine Conservation Voters.
This “report” seems more like targeted criticism of a Governor who is trying to get Maine into the mainstream so we can compete economically. There has been no huge roll back of any major environmental laws under the LePage administration, nor has there been proposals for such. Not issuing bonds has more to do with building up the state’s credit rating and pulling in the reins on indebtedness than being anti-environment. The ways we fund energy efficiency is a tax that we don’t call a tax. I am tired of taxation and mandates.
I am an environmentalist who says we ought to give this Governor a more passing grade than the D that this special interest group gives.
The one thing that LePage has done that in my mind is A+ regarding the environment is expose the economic farce of wind power and criticize the horrendous environmental devastation of our mountains. Here, LePage is the defender of our state’s environment and it’s natural resources. Only people with ideological “green blindness” don’t realize that blasting away our ridgelines and leveling millions of cubic yards of uplands to put in turbines that don’t perform is bad for Maine’s environment. LePage’s opposition to destroying Maine by wind power development far outweighs all the other environmental issues cited in this report.
You aren’t paying attention!
He Combined the Department of Agriculture with the Department of Conservation.
Thus creating the Department of Aggrivation!
How can an organization purporting to be about conservation not
be alarmed at the extensive damage to the environment, wildlife and people
from the proliferation of wind power throughout rural Maine?
This MCV attack on Gov LePage looks more like pure politics
than conservation.
In reality the greatest threat to Maine’s environment is from
the on going destruction of our mountain ridges for the installation of
inefficient wind turbines.
Wind power is intermittent, unreliable, expensive and drives
up the cost of electricity.
Sold by ill informed politicians as a job creator, wind in
truth results in a net loss of jobs for Maine because of the increased cost of
energy.
It would be interesting to know how much of MCV’s support
comes from the wind lobby and developers like Angus
King.
How come you’re not enraged by the “destruction” of ridges and mountains in Maine from logging?
Maine Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan organization. Are we political when it comes to the environment? You bet we are. Just remember to line up with us or else!
Ha
Governor LePage is trying to get hydro re-classified as a renewable, which is a positive action. Hydropower IS renewable. It is also dispatchable, which means it is a power source that can be relied upon to provide power, day and night, whenever power is needed. If he succeeds in this, our RPS will be above and beyond almost any other state in the nation, which is as it should be. And this will be a GOOD thing for the business environment and the ratepayer.
Maine Conservation Voters is hardly a nonpartisan organization (see http://georgesoutdoornews.bangordailynews.com/2012/08/27/maine-woods/conservation-voters-endorsements-skew-to-democrats/). While Gov. Paul LePage is hardly friendly to environmental concerns, the MCV is either delusional or, more likely, trying to garner favorable impressions with the public by denying their clear and irrevocable leanings towards Democrats.
I’m not saying the MCV is wrong in supporting Democrats; I’m saying they should stop lying to the public that they are nonpartisan when clearly they’re but anything but nonpartisan.
LePage should know a lot about being politically motivated. Almost everything he does falls into that category.