TLCV Grades Texas Legislators

The Texas League of Conservation Voters (TLCV) issued their grades for members of the Texas House of Representatives. The TLCV rates Texas legislators after each regular session of the legislature, by giving them "grades" on how they voted on conservation issues. This year, these issues covered such things as water, state parks, global warming, air, energy and waste.

Overall, Democrats scored much better than Republicans. The average score for Democrats was 84, while the average score for Republicans was 32. Our representatives here in the Panhandle didn't do too well. John Smithee scored 33, David Swinford scored 31, and Warren Chisum scored a miserable 28. Only one Republican scored over 50 -- Delwin Jones with a 52.

Meanwhile, eleven Democrats scored a perfect 100. They are:

Lon Burnam

Garnet Coleman

Jim Dunnam

Pete Gallego

Veronica Gonzales

Donna Howard

Borris Miles

Elliott Naishtat

Rene Oliveira

Eddie Rodriguez

Senfronia Thompson

Twenty-five other Democrats also received an A+ rating (a grade of over 90) from the TLCV, including US Senate candidate Rick Noriega (who scored 96).

These numbers make it very clear which party is voting to protect Texas citizens and their environment, and which party is not. Democrats vote to clean our water and air and to protect our environment. Republicans vote to protect the corporate polluters.

Remember these numbers when you vote next year, and vote the Republicans out of power -- for the good of Texas and its citizens.