I'm a pragmatic environmentalist. I love to hike and fish with my family; we appreciate our forests, mountains, and the Chesapeake Bay for the value they add to our lives. So I strongly support common sense environmental legislation like critical areas protection, increased wetlands protection, Brownfields restoration, Program Open Space, and the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. They work.
But we can no longer afford environmental policies that sound wonderful, but have a questionable scientific basis and do very little at great cost. Environmental policies must be scientific and balanced. Sometimes advocates forget that businesses and people are part of our environment, and that they also contribute to our quality of life. I'm obligated to remember this before every vote." (Delegate Herb McMillan, 2004)
Delegate McMillan's environmental record is underscored by common sense and independence. As an Annapolis councilman, he successfully led the effort to block the dumping of dredge spoils into the Chesapeake Bay. As a State Delegate, he consistently voted against reductions to Program Open Space funding. His legislation to cut a $14.7 million coal subsidy and transfer those funds to Program Open Space was a priority of Greening the Budget 2004, published by MaryPirg; Clean Water Action; the League of Conservation Voters and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.