On Monday, ENews Park Forest reported that sixteen largely polluting states filed a lawsuit to prevent new smog rules from being enacted. Much of their desire to do so was to save big utilities and coal companies that gave an estimated $5 million in contributions to governors and attorneys general who supported them. Personally, I find it appalling that these states would put money ahead of environmental protection and public health. How do you feel about this?08 February 2012
States Oppose New Pollution Reduction Rules
On Monday, ENews Park Forest reported that sixteen largely polluting states filed a lawsuit to prevent new smog rules from being enacted. Much of their desire to do so was to save big utilities and coal companies that gave an estimated $5 million in contributions to governors and attorneys general who supported them. Personally, I find it appalling that these states would put money ahead of environmental protection and public health. How do you feel about this?
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I feel that is pretty awful, too!! However, hopefully the media exposure of this will change the outcome of the situation. It is also interesting to note that 7 of those states are in the southeast, and there aren't any states on the west coast or in the New England area on the list.
ReplyDeleteI also know that Georgia doesn't require annual smog tests on cars like in California.
In political debates, it is always a difficult decision in attempting to promote healthy and environmentally healthy policy when the primary financial supporters of one's campaigns are those working directly against the environment. However, it is a question of environmental ethics when deciding where one falls on the spectrum. Personally, I feel that politicians owe their loyalty to those that have elected them over those who financially back them, as they only represent a small minority of the state. I think that when environmental issues lead to issues of public health, it is up to policy makers to intervene with air pollution contributing corporations.
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