The story provides readers with some of the reactions from 2 of the 14 legislators who responded to the survey. There are also comments from 3 non-legislators, Deb Steketee with the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College, Bill Stough with Sustainable Research Group, and Rachel Hood with the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. Each of these three "environmental spokespersons" focused on the survey results and the personal behaviors of these 14 legislators. What is omitted from the story and would seem more relevant to readers and the public is what are the voting records of these state legislators when it comes to environmental issues? This information is available from the State legislative websites, but groups like Clean Water Action have scorecards for Senators and Representatives. The Press missed a huge opportunity to tell readers where these legislators stand on issues like the future of the Great Lakes, water diversion and privatization, climate change, air pollution and the auto industry, or the current battle with Sulfide mining in the UP. Other questions to consider would be who gives them money during re-election and which industry groups lobby them, particularly which ones that are notorious polluters?

Lastly, it should be noted that the three responses from people who work for environmental groups also missed an opportunity to raise these issues. Maybe their reluctance has to do with whom they represent or who sits on their board of directors. The Sustainable Research Group has only 3 board members, and the Bill Stough, the chief executive, is one of them. The other two are local CEOs of Herman Miller and Crystal Flash corporations. The Center for Sustainability website says they have an advisory committee, but no names are yet posted. WMEAC's board of directors is a mix of business people, a farmer, and university staff. WMEAC just participated in the Step It Up 2007, which has as its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and is targeted at legislators. Unfortunately, the kind of policy change that campaigns like Step It Up 2007 were absent from the Grand Rapids Press coverage.