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Rep. Cain lauded for environmental voting record

By Emily Whitney

Posted on Thursday, September 29th, 2005, 12:00 am

The mission of the Maine League of Conservation Voters is to make the protection of natural resources a priority for Maine voters, candidates and elected officials. State Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, is one of the most active members of this league and has earned top honors for her environmental voting record in the first session of the 122nd Maine Legislature this year.

“Maine consistently makes the environment a priority,” Cain said. “What I love most is the variety of issues [the Legislature] deals with – fresh water and coastal properties, recreational activities and conservational ones. These things affect everybody.”

According to the “Environmental Scorecard,” which is an outline of the environmental decisions made in the Maine Legislature by elected officials, Cain has voted seven out of seven times for issues varying from water quality to federal land use.

“Because of the economic impact of the environment here in Maine, these issues will never go away,” Cain said. “We try to prioritize them based on need, urgency and long-term effects, all these contribute to our decisions regarding resource distribution.”

The importance of a legislator’s decisions is heightened by the importance of the environment to the state.

“The Maine we love is threatened,” the Maine League of Conservation Voters said in a statement. “Unchecked development is eating away at our open spaces, closing off access to places we have always enjoyed, by pollution like dioxin and mercury in our water and wildlife, by air pollution that harms our health and obscures our views.”

As a result, the leadership of representatives like Cain has become increasingly more valuable, according to the MLCV.

“We need strong political leaders who know that a healthy economy depends on a healthy environment,” the MLCV said. “We track the voting records of legislators, so their constituents know where they stand on key natural resources issues. We endorse candidates and work to elect leaders who will protect our health, open spaces and quality of life.”

One of the biggest environmental issues surrounding the legislature right now deals with the cooperation of economics and ecology. The movement towards ecotourism has begun and voting is reflexive of that.

“People from both in state and out of state are calling for the appreciation and preservation of the natural tourist sites that they’ve come to visit,” Cain said. “There are so many environmental possibilities here, we’re trying to balance that with the recreation.”

Often, surprising issues arise surrounding the effect of economic decisions on environmental ones.

“I learn something new in Augusta every day,” Cain said. “Once, there was this emergency bill that needed pass. It had to do with turkeys. We thought someone was messing with us.”

Apparently, that particular hunting season, not very many permits were issued, so not many turkeys were killed. As a result, there were too many. The turkeys caused severe car accidents and major property damage.

“We extended the hunting season and made sure more permits would be issued,” Cain said.

The next opportunity for voters to take to the polls will be Nov. 8 when a bond package is up for passage. According to both Cain and the MLCV, the best way to get involved is to develop an awareness and understanding of the issues and then vote on them.

“Our environment is our best asset,” Cain said. “It needs to be cared for, cultivated and protected. We have to balance our economic development needs, while maintaining our high standards. Don’t be afraid to ask or speak out when a bill comes up that matters to you.”

To let your elected representatives know how you feel about their work. You can e-mail them at www.mlcv.org.