COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today, the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund released its environmental scorecard update for Ohio’s 135th General Assembly alongside the Ohio congressional delegation’s scores in the League of Conservation Voters’ (LCV) 2023 National Environmental Scorecard.
The OEC Action Fund created its scorecard to hold Ohio lawmakers accountable for votes that damage our environment, as well as to celebrate those lawmakers who have championed pro-environmental legislation. Our 2023 Scorecard Update reflects the actions of state-level decision-makers on key environmental decisions and legislation during the first half of the 135th Ohio General Assembly last year.
The 135th Ohio General Assembly was slow to move legislation in 2023. Similar to LCV’s national scores, there is a sharp divide between lawmakers who support pro-environment and pro-democracy legislation, and lawmakers working against the public interest.
Notable scores in this year’s OEC Action Fund update include:
Governor DeWine and his Administration:
Score: 3.4 out of 10
Gov. DeWine continued to promote the H2Ohio program with sustained investments in 2023, and his Administration took initial steps to further protect the Big and Little Darby Creek watershed in Central Ohio — the state's most biologically diverse watershed. But Gov. DeWine’s efforts to protect our state public lands decreased. He continues to support legislation that favors fossil fuel interests, and voted to approve gerrymandered maps during the redistricting process yet again.
Ohio Redistricting Commission:
Score: 0 out of 10
In September 2023, members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission once again approved gerrymandered legislative districts, resulting in a score of 0.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose:
Score: 0 out of 10
Throughout his tenure, Secretary of State LaRose has taken a number of anti-democratic actions harmful to Ohioans and ultimately harmful to environmental progress in the state. He receives a score of 0.
View the OEC Action Fund’s 2023 Scorecard Update on our website.
Since 1970, LCV’s Scorecard has been the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress. The LCV 2023 National Environmental Scorecard highlights how our state’s congressional leaders worked to protect our environment and democracy at the federal level, despite months of legislative attacks and partisan chaos caused by extreme politicians.
In the House alone, there were hundreds of dangerous votes catered to fossil fuel interests and the most extreme politicians in the Republican party.
This was a dramatic change from 2022, when climate champions led both the House and Senate, passing the most significant climate and clean energy investments in American history. This year, many in Ohio’s delegation led efforts to help local communities lower costs, protect the most vulnerable and tackle the climate crisis. Unfortunately, constant gridlock and chaos led to one of the least productive Congresses ever.
“While our elected representatives face barriers to progress, Ohioans should know many of these leaders took action against fossil fuel interests and legislative attacks on our environment,” Spencer Dirrig, director of the OEC Action Fund, said. “Despite the gridlock and chaos caused by extreme politicians in Congress today, our National Environmental Scorecard shows that Representatives Beatty, Brown, Kaptur, Landsman and Sykes are working every day to protect the health and environment of all Ohio communities. The future of our planet and our democracy are at stake.”
“Following the most productive Congress in history for climate action, 2023 was not only the hottest year on record, it was one of the least productive legislative years ever because of MAGA House Republicans’ extreme leadership,” LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld, said. “The last Congress showed that transformational change that works for both our communities and our planet is possible when our elected leaders come together to pass meaningful legislation that will tackle the climate crisis and environmental injustice. In 2023, the near record number of House votes included underscores that the new House Republican majority did the bidding of Big Polluters and sought to undo the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic leadership on climate change. We appreciate our allies in the House who consistently opposed these attacks and, thanks to champions in the Senate and the President’s steadfast leadership, these attempts to undermine the historic affordable clean energy plan were unsuccessful.”
For the second year, the 2023 Scorecard highlights the leadership of the Tri-Caucus, including the history-making election of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as the first member of the Tri-Caucus elected to lead either chamber. Leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) scored an average of 99% on the 2023 Scorecard. These champions in Congress led and supported many of the forward-looking climate, conservation, environmental justice and equitable democracy bills and initiatives in 2023, in addition to helping educate constituents and connect communities to the transformational investments within the affordable clean energy plan.
In Ohio, the extreme storms and flooding, rising temperatures and critical infrastructure demands that continue to affect Ohio communities required an all-of-government approach that the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress in 2023 helped deliver — despite relentless attempts by the fossil fuel industry and other entrenched interests to put their profits over the needs of Ohioans.
The 2023 National Environmental Scorecard includes a near record-high 36 votes in the House, over a dozen of which were messaging amendments offered on major funding bills that already had no path to enactment. The Senate in contrast approved four bipartisan appropriations bills and 69 lifetime federal judges with exceptional environmental records.
The full delegation’s scores for 2023 are:
Senator Sherrod Brown (D) — 88%
Senator J.D. Vance (R) — 0%
Representative Greg Landsman (D) — 100%
Representative Brad Wenstrup (R) – 0%
Representative Joyce Beatty (D) — 100%
Representative Jim Jordan (R) – 0%
Representative Bob Latta (R) – 0%
Representative Bill Johnson (R) – 0%
Representative Max Miller (R) – 0%
Representative Warren Davidson (R) – 0%
Representative Marcy Kaptur (D) — 100%
Representative Mike Turner (R) – 8%
Representative Shontel Brown (D) — 100%
Representative Troy Balderson (R) – 0%
Representative Emilia Sykes (D) — 100%
Representative Dave Joyce (R) – 8%
Representative Mike Carey (R) – 3%
LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from more than 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored. LCV scores votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, climate change, environmental justice, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, democracy, and spending for environmental programs. The votes included in the Scorecard presented members of Congress with a real choice and help distinguish which legislators are working for environmental protection.
View the League of Conservation Voters’ 2023 National Environmental Scorecard on our website.
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The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment and the health of all Ohio communities. We will continue to fight for Ohio’s access to clean water, healthy air, vibrant public lands and a strong democracy.