2009 Year in Review

A Letter from Cindy Schwartz

Dear Friends,

As 2009 draws to a close, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV) reflects on a year notable for its challenges and a legislative session characterized by both wins and losses for the environment. After 30 years of advocacy, accountability and action on behalf of Maryland's air, land, water and people, this year demonstrated to us at Maryland LCV the immense importance of never letting up and always pushing forward.

Confronted by enormous budget cuts, we fought hard to ensure the General Assembly always remembered that a healthy environment goes hand-in-hand with a strong economy. And, after many years of fighting, historic legislation passed-the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act-that is now one of the nation's strongest laws to combat global warming. Maryland set an example for the U.S. Congress-we hope they follow our lead.

Spreading the word that protecting the environment is a good economic investment in Maryland's future underscored our approach to 2009. Through town hall meetings, lobby days in Annapolis, rallies, briefings and trainings, we galvanized environmental activists across the state to send a message that a vote for the environment is a vote for a strong economy- through clean energy job creation; air, land and water that everyone can enjoy; a revitalized Chesapeake Bay that is an economic engine, as well as securing a healthy future for our children.

Yes, we face many challenges, but there are also huge opportunities. The 2010 statewide elections provide us a chance to expand our conservation majority in the General Assembly, ensuring strong votes for environmental legislation in the future. Fresh attention to the Chesapeake Bay at the federal level could bring renewed and stronger efforts at the state level. Tight state budgets present a chance to draw attention to sprawling growth and its associated issue of how we make transportation infrastructure spending decisions. While serious progress was made in the past three years on pollution from new development and septic systems, we must now repair old infrastructure that spills stormwater pollution into our waters everyday.

We have our work cut out for us. Thank you for standing with us and for helping us be the political voice for the environment in Maryland. Please see the reverse side for the highlights of 2009.

Sincerely,

Cindy Schwartz,
Executive Director
Maryland League of Conservation Voters