(AP) - All but a handful of Nevada lawmakers were given good grades by the Nevada Conservation League for their votes in last year's legislative session on environmental issues.
Republican Assemblyman Ty Cobb of Reno ranked the lowest, the only legislator with a score of less than 50 on the report card released Thursday. Gov. Jim Gibbons got an "F."
The group picked Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, as senator of the year for his support of environmental issues. Assemblyman David Bobzien, D-Reno, received the same honor in the Assembly.
None of the 21 state senators got a score of less than 79, while all but nine of the 42 Assembly members were graded at better than 70.
The Conservation League describes itself as the nonprofit, independent political voice of the conservation community whose goal is to maintain and enhance Nevada's natural character.
Executive Director Scot Rutledge said while he's pleased with the 2009 Legislature's performance, Nevada's tax structure and the state's continued budget shortfalls jeopardize key conservation programs such as state parks and wildlife-improvement projects.
In a letter to Nevada residents, he said next year's legislative session could be the "most difficult in Nevada" history as the state faces a shortfall that some project could reach $3.5 billion.