Most Improved Legislators

Senator Dave Schmidt (R-44, final grade A) voted with the environment on nearly every issue; he co-sponsored a number of environmental bills and came through on the Clean Cars bill when it counted most.

Although he initially co-sponsored the Clean Cars bill, there was a point where his support wavered. But after he received overwhelming support for the bill from his constituents, he came through in the end and voted for it.

2005 was the first session in which Senator Schmidt demonstrated this level of interest in environmental matters.

Senator Luke Esser (R-48, C+) was also one of the most improved legislators this year. He co-sponsored and played a key role in passing the Clean Cars bill. In fact, he never wavered in his support for it, and was even ready to be the 25th and decisive vote.

He gets two extra credit points for his work on the Clean Cars bill, and one point for helping us to work more with the Republican caucus. But he loses two points for blocking a Senate vote on the RTID reform. He also voted against our position on the Transportation Funding package, the Transit Mobility bill, and the Water Permit bill. The common theme here seems to be that Senator Esser tends to vote against the environmental position when it comes to transportation policy and to generating revenue.