Washtenaw County lawmakers are earning high scores for their efforts to protect the state's natural resources, according to a new Environmental Scorecard released today by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

The LCV claims in its report that the Michigan Senate has been a roadblock to enacting legislation to protect the environment and public health during the 2009-2010 legislative session.

But lawmakers from Washtenaw County haven't been a part of the problem, according to the Scorecard results.

The Scorecard examines how state representatives and senators voted on environmental policy issues.

There were 32 state representatives and 11 state senators who received a score of 100 percent. That includes Sen. Liz Brater, D-Ann Arbor, and Rep. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, who recently was named lawmaker of the year by Michigan Clean Water Action.

State Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, scored 89 percent. She lost points for voting against legislation to create the new state Recreation Passport and to designate new revenue to state parks.

In December 2009, the House passed House Bills 4677 and 4678, which created a recreation passport fee of $10 for cars and $5 for motorcycles, which is collected during annual vehicle registration unless the vehicle owner declines to pay the fee. The Recreation Passport, which was signed into law by the governor, allows the vehicle to access any state park, recreation area or boat launch. Revenue from the fee is used to support state parks and recreation areas.

State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, scored 94 percent. She would have scored 100 percent, but lost points for being absent from a vote on legislation that, had it passed, would have overturned the governor’s executive directive designed to prevent the unnecessary construction of power plants.

The LCV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to holding elected officials accountable for their actions to promote or damage protections to natural resources and public health. The LCV is encouraging citizens to access the Scorecard report to see how their elected officials are performing in Lansing.

To view the complete report, go to www.michiganlcv.org/scorecard.

People can use the online Scorecard to find their legislators by zip code, and see a lifetime score, and scores for the current and recent sessions.

The Scorecard also includes contact information for each lawmaker and links to campaign finance reports filed with the state.

"We publish the Michigan Environmental Scorecard to shine light on the inner workings of Lansing and to hold elected officials accountable for their actions," said Lisa Wozniak, LCV executive director. "This year’s Scorecard gives an all-encompassing picture of the conservation and environmental priorities of Michigan’s lawmakers, and arms citizens with the facts to hold these officials accountable." 

The LCV report criticizes three state representatives who scored zero percent by voting against every pro-environment bill that came their way: Justin Amash, R-Kentwood; Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck; and Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills.

On the Senate side, nine officials scored a zero percent, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, and Assistant Majority Leader Michelle McManus, R-Lake Leelanau.

LCV officials said this year's Scorecard shows inaction in the Senate was a common theme of the legislative session. Numerous bills were passed in the state House to protect Michigan citizens and children from toxic substances like mercury, arsenic and lindane, but did not see the light of day in the Senate.

According to the LCV, most of the time spent by the Senate on conservation and environmental issues was spent trying to dismantle environmental protection.

The LCV specifically calls out Bishop for supporting repeated attempts to weaken protection and maintenance of the state's natural resources to the federal government’s minimum standards, opting for less state control of Michigan’s policies.

Bishop could not be reached for comment by AnnArbor.com.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.