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AUSTIN—One senator and seven representatives voted to protect the environment 100 percent of the time in the 80th Legislature, according to Environment Texas’  biennial legislative scorecard. The scorecard tracks votes on a range of votes affecting the state’s air, water, natural areas, and quality of life. 

Texas House Representatives voting to protect the environment 100 percent of the time were: Reps. Lon Burnam (Fort Worth), Garnet Coleman (Houston), Norma Chavez (El Paso), Abel Herrero (Robstown), David Leibowitz (San Antonio), Elliott Naishtat (Austin), and Dora Olivo (Rosenberg). Three Representatives got scores of 0 percent: Patricia Harless (Spring), Will Hartnett (Dallas), and Joe Straus (San Antonio). The average score in the House was 46 percent.

The highest scoring House Republican was Rep. Kirk England (Grand Prairie) with 67 percent. Reps. Robby Cook (Eagle Lake), David Farabee (Witchita Falls), Mark Homer (Paris), and Aaron Pena (Edinburg) shared the lowest score of House Democrats with 33 percent.

Sen. Mario Gallegos (Houston) was the lone state senator to receive a 100 percent score. Sens. Chris Harris (Arlington) and Florence Shapiro (Plano) received the lowest scores in the Senate with 29 percent each. The average score in the Senate was 61 percent.

Sens. Kip Averitt (Waco), Kim Brimer (Fort Worth), John Carona (Dallas), Robert Deuell (Greenville), Robert Duncan (Lubbock), Kevin Eltife (Tyler), Craig Estes (Wichita Falls), Glenn Hegar (Katy), Kyle Janek (Houston), Robert Nichols (Jacksonville), and Kel Seliger (Amarillo) were the highest-scoring Senate Republicans—all receiving 57 percent. 

The full scorecard can be downloaded here. 

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