Legislator Gets High Marks From League Of Conservation Voters

GUILFORD, CT — State Senator Christine Cohen was honored as an Environmental Champion by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters on their annual Environmental Scorecard.

Cohen, first elected in 2018 to represent the 12th Senate District, which includes Guilford, Branford, Madison and North Branford, Durham, and Killingworth, owns Cohen’s Bagel Company in Madison.

According to a press release from the League of Conservation Voters, the honor is reserved for a legislators who back pro-environmental legislation. Cohen, Senate Chair of the legislature’s Environment Committee, was given a score of 96 percent.

“I am thrilled to receive this honor by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters,” Cohen said, adding the League "has been instrumental in uplifting the voices of all those concerned with environmental issues."

"They have been consistently effective in collaborating to accomplish meaningful agendas related to a sustainable future," Cohen said. "I am pleased to receive such a high distinction from this terrific organization and I am committed to advocating for and protecting our environment.”

The League's grading scale goes from 0-to-100 percent. It is based on how legislators vote on key environmental bills during the committee period of session and on the House and Senate floor.

The legislative priorities included in the League of Conservation Voters' scorecard covers a "wide, diverse range of environmental concerns," and noted its legislative victories in the recent session as including Offshore Wind legislation, Plastic Bag Ban, State Water Plan, Fracking Waste Ban, and Solar Net-Metering.

Executive Director Lori Brown said Cohen's "commitment, courage and guidance was admirable and necessary throughout the 2019 legislative session.

“Sen. Cohen was a champion in her first year,” Brown said. “She led the charge on plastic bag legislation, which was not an easy battle, but thanks to her leadership, an important piece of legislation passed. We are already seeing the results of this success across the state. We need champions like Sen. Cohen to continue this momentum into the upcoming legislative session.”

The League recounted Cohen's work and "leadership in both chambers to pass a strong plastic bag ban as part of the state budget," and, she helped pass the State Water Plan and introduced numerous pro-environment bills in Committee.