How green is your state Rep?

By Carolyn Szczepanski in Politics

Fri., Aug. 7 2009 @ 7:00AM

Now that the federal government is finally crafting legislation to deal with global warming, environmentalists are keeping a close watch on Washington, D.C. But, during the 2009 session, there was plenty of eco-related action in Missouri's capital, too.

Rep Beth Low

Rep Bryan Pratt

Earlier this week, the nonpartisan advocacy group Missouri Votes Conservation released its annual scorecard, outlining how lawmakers in Jefferson City fared this year in protecting the environment. The report highlights the successes, like progress on energy efficiency, and disappointments, like the defeat of a sweeping "Omnibus Green Energy Bill."

It also points fingers at individual lawmakers.

Second on MVC's list of "Good Deeds," Beth Low and Jason Holsman, both House Democrats from Kansas City, were lauded for sponsoring a variety of green bills and amendments. Bryan Pratt, a House Republican from Blue Springs, also got a nod for sponsoring a green homes tax credit bill. Topping the list of "Out of Step" lawmakers, Ed Emery, a House Republican from Lamar, got flack for sponsoring a bill that would have stuck ratepayers, not utility companies, with the cost of building new power plants.

To see a complete list of how legislators voted on key environmental issues, read the full report here.