Sen. Hickman earns perfect score for voting record on environment and natural resources
AUGUSTA – Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, earned a perfect score from the Maine Conservation Voters for his votes this session to preserve Maine’s natural resources, promote energy independence and protect the public from harmful chemicals. Sen. Hickman was one of 17 state senators to earn a perfect score on the 2021 Environmental Scorecard released earlier this week, which tracked how lawmakers voted on seven key proposals debated by the Maine Legislature this past year.
“As an organic farmer, I see the impacts of climate change every day. I fundamentally believe that we must prioritize protecting our environment and mitigating the effects of climate change. I am proud of all the work we did this session to protect the environment, including divesting our state retirement fund from fossil fuels, funding Land for Maine’s Future, and adding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the Public Utilities Commission’s mandate,” said Sen. Hickman. “I am so proud to have received a perfect score from Maine Conservation Voters.”
Sen. Hickman has a long history of supporting initiatives to promote, protect and preserve Maine’s environment, which supports the health and well-being of Maine people and the economy. He previously served on the Climate and Equity Advisory Committee. This session Sen. Hickman was instrumental is passing LD 1126, one of Maine Conservation Voters’ scored bills. This bill allows for online voter registration which increases voter access, allows for cost saving for the state and municipalities, and creates more accurate voter rolls.
Sen. Hickman also worked to pass legislation to ban the aerial spraying of the toxic chemical known as glyphosate for the purpose of forestry in the Maine woods. Although the measure received strong support in both the House and Senate, it failed to become law. Aerial herbicide spraying in forestry is used by landowners to kill off less favorable trees to facilitate the growth of more profitable trees despite the adverse effects these chemicals have on the local ecosystem, wildlife, neighboring lands, drinking water and the health of the people working in the Maine woods. Glyphosate, the central ingredient in many herbicides, has been banned in several towns, cities, states and countries over the past few years due to links to cancer. The World Health Organization’s International Agency on the Research of Cancer has declared the chemical “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
MCV is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting Maine’s environment and democracy. MCV’s Scorecard can be viewed online at www.maineconservation.org/scores.
