Tree-huggers in the Illinois Senate
Both parties in the Illinois state Senate picked new leaders with better environmental records than their predecessors. Democrats picked John Cullerton as Senate President and Republicans picked Christine Radogno to lead their caucus. Both Senators were endorsed for re-election by the Sierra Club this year.
The Illinois Environmental Council gave Cullerton an 86% rating on their 2007 scorecard. He scored better with 100% in both 2005 and 2004.
Christine Radogno received a 71% rating in 2007, 83% in 2005 and 75% in 2004. That's unusually good for a Republican.
Both Cullerton and Radogno are co-sponsors of the Clean Car Act. That was one of the top priorities pushed by environmental groups this year and they will continue to advocate for it next year.
Hopefully, the change will result in the Senate passing more pro-environment legislation and maybe Radogno will encourage the rest of her caucus to move in the right direction.