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Audubon Society gives Stefanik soaring praise

Democrats call foul play

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville (Photo — Adam Colver, Post-Star)

The National Audubon Society honored U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik with its Conservation Hero award, recognizing her work to preserve birds and the ecosystems they call home.

The congresswoman met with Audubon Society CEO David Yarnold at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C. where he presented her and around a dozen other public officials with the annual award and a framed photo of a wood duck.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Audubon Society,” Stefanik said. “The Audubon Society does tremendous work to preserve our natural ecosystems so that birds and wildlife can thrive.”

The society said Stefanik received the award for actively supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with $300 million in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations bill, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and EPA funding, as well as for being a leader in the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus.

Democratic candidates, running for Stefanik’s Congressional seat in November, did not think the congresswoman has done enough to earn the award.

“A prime instance of DC self-congratulation,” Democratic Congressional candidate Tedra Cobb’s media relations director Mike Szustak wrote in an email. “According to the Audubon’s Society own web site, sage grouse preservation and protecting the Alaskan wilderness are two of their top priorities. She voted against both. But hey, she got a picture with them right?”

“This award has historically been used as a smoke screen at election time by Republicans who are irresponsible stewards of the environment,” Democratic Congressional candidate Emily Martz wrote in an email.

“Voters want elected officials who spend less time grabbing awards on the DC cocktail circuit and more time in the district fighting for them,” Democratic Congressional candidate Katie Wilson wrote in an email.

“Stefanik receives failing grades from League of Conservation Voters: 43 percent for 2017 and 27 percent lifetime votes,” Green Party Congressional candidate Lynn Kahn wrote in an email. “She is slowly learning about the environment, just not fast enough to prevent environmental and ecological disasters. The award is politically motivated.”

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