To see how your legislators scored, and to learn more about the 2024 bills and votes, see the full 2024 Scorecard below.
Hurricane Helene rattled our state like no climate disaster has before, particularly in Western North Carolina. It has become one of the U.S.’s deadliest and costliest hurricanes, with more than 200 deaths and an estimated economic loss of $78 billion. Unfortunately, our legislature could have prepared for and mitigated some of this destruction. Instead, they made it worse.
Instead of providing swift aid to the victims devastated by Hurricane Helene, the pro-polluting supermajority sought to take advantage of this climate disaster and strip power from the newly elected Governor and Attorney General. Additionally, they sought to set unrealistic deadlines for mail-in and provisional ballots, and unconstitutionally remove checks and balances in our court system. This ploy for unchecked power came under the name “Disaster Relief,” but it was anything but meaningful relief.
The North Carolina General Assembly once again failed to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – cancer-causing chemicals – despite bipartisan support and clear scientific evidence of their dangerous prevalence in our environment. Their neglect has real-life consequences.
Each year we identify some of the biggest allies and adversaries to environmental and democracy work in North Carolina. Out of all the 170 elected officials in the General Assembly, 50 scored a whopping 0% – 21 House members and 29 Senators, all of them Republicans.
Some of Governor Cooper’s greatest achievements include setting ambitious climate targets, promoting clean energy jobs, and expanding efforts to protect natural resources and communities disproportionately affected by pollution. He leaves the Governor’s seat in good hands with Governor Josh Stein, a proven and stalwart environmental champion.
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