Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due: Legislative Scorecards

"Corporate America has its hired guns. Californians have CALPIRG."
—Asm. Sally Lieber (Mountain View)

When lawmakers or other public officials side with powerful special interests over the public interest, we’re quick to criticize. Holding public officials to account is, after all, a key part of our role as watchdogs and advocates. Yet it’s an enjoyable change of pace when we’re able to praise decision-makers who deserve it.

On Jan. 19, we did just that by honoring 40 California lawmakers for earning a perfect score on our 2005 Legislative Scorecard. (And in case you’re thinking perhaps we graded on a curve, fear not: the average score in the Senate was 64 percent; the average Assembly score, 62 percent.)

CALPIRG’s Emily Rusch and I spent a couple of days in the capital meeting with lawmakers to present them with their 100 percent certificates. Several have already proudly hung them on their office walls. Here’s what a few of them said about receiving their award from CALPIRG:

Sen. Christine Kehoe (San Diego): “I respect CALPIRG’s dedicated service of advocating for consumers, and am glad they’re keeping their eye on what legislators are doing at the Capitol.”

Asm. Dave Jones (Sacramento): “My constituents sent me to the Legislature to look out for the public interest, not special interests. I am proud to stand with CALPIRG and ordinary citizens in fighting for a sustainable economy and a responsive government.”

Asm. Majority Leader Dario Frommer (Los Angeles): “I’m honored to receive a 100 percent score from CALPIRG and ... am proud to stand up for consumers who are struggling to afford their prescription drugs.”

Sen. Nell Soto (Pomona): “CALPIRG has an impressive track record when it comes to putting the public’s interest before special interests, and I am proud to do my part to put the people first. I do what I can because I believe it is right, but I am also honored to be recognized by an organization that has long been an effective advocate for the people of California.”

Sen. Elaine Alquist (Santa Clara): “I am proud to support measures that empower individual consumers in the marketplace, and I’m honored to receive CALPIRG’s highest ranking.”

Thanks in large part to these and other 2005 consumer champions, important new reforms were signed into law last year. These laws will protect consumers when we shop for cars, prevent life-threatening fires caused by smoldering cigarettes, require tax preparation firms to more clearly disclose the true nature of instant tax refunds, and require hospitals to disclose more information to help consumers obtain affordable health care.

In 2006 and beyond, we’ll need these legislators to keep their perfect batting records. And we’ll need others to step up to the plate too. If that happens, we can continue to win reforms that protect our health, safety and well-being here in California.

Visit our Web site at www.calpirg.org to see the scores of your elected officials.

Sincerely,

Steve Blackledge
Legislative Director