Help us take back the environment and take back the Senate!
By Josh Cherwin on 10/14/2011 @ 03:00 PM
When it comes to safeguarding the environment for the next generation of New Yorkers, Senate Republicans are flunking!
Instead of fighting to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, these Republicans are cutting backroom deals, handing out special interest giveaways to the worst polluters and rolling in the corporate dough.
On Wednesday, Environmental Advocates of New York gave these Republican Senators an “F” when it comes to keeping New York State green.
No parent would tolerate this report card:
Senator Marty Golden - 55%
Senator Andrew Lanza - 59%
Senator George Maziarz - 59%
Senator Mark Grisaniti 63%
Senator Patrick Gallivan - 55%
Senator Catharine Young - 55%
Senator Michael Ranzenhofer - 50%(the LOWEST in the entire Senate)
Senator John Flanagan: 55%
Senator Charles Fuschillo: 59%
Senator Kemp Hannon: 59%
Senator Owen Johnson: 55%
Senator Jack Martins: 59%
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos: 55%
Senator Lee Zeldin: 55%
Senator William Larkin - 55%
Senator John Bonacic - 59%
Senator Stephen Saland - 55%
Senator Gregory Ball - 63%
Clearly, Senate Republicans don’t believe we have an obligation to preserve the natural resources and open landscapes that make this the Empire State. As New Yorkers we cannot let that stand!
A Democratic Majority in the New York State Senate ensures that we will leave a brighter, greener future to those who come after. Join us today. Help us take back the environment and take back the Senate.
Foley Ranked #1 Senator on Environment
By Mike Connery on 05/14/2010 @ 01:34 PM
Senator Brian Foley, who yesterday announced new legislation to enforce stricter energy efficiency standards, was ranked as one of the top legislators in the state senate on environmental issues in the latest EPL Voters' Guide.
Democrats Pass Earth Day Environment 2010 Agenda
By Mike Connery on 04/22/2010 @ 01:01 PM
Yesterday, the Senate Democrats passed a package of reforms that will protect our environment and the health of our children. The reforms, sponsored by Senate Dems Daniel Squadron, Antoine Thompson, Liz Kreuger, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Brian Foley, included:
- S3593 / Krueger: Institutes a rechargeable battery producer and retailer sponsored take back program at no costs to consumers.
Two Republicans voted No on the bill: Betty Little and John Flanagan. - S6141B / Squadron: Requires Auto Dealerships to post a Gallons Per Mile Fuel Savings Guide within the dealership that presents information developed by the DEC.
26 Republicans voted No on the bill: Alesi, Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Flanagan, Fuschillo, Golden, Griffo, Hannon, Owen Johnson, Larkin, Leibell, Libous, Little, Marcellino, Maziarz, McDonald, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Robach, Saland, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Winner, and Young. - S6047A / Thompson: Establishes a comprehensive State-wide electronic equipment reuse and recycling program.
- S4983C / Foley: Limits pesticide exposures for school and daycare aged children by prohibiting certain outdoor, non-essential applications on playgrounds, turf, and athletic or playing fields.
22 Republicans voted No on the bill: Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Golden, Griffo, Hannon, Owen Johnson, Lanza, Larkin, Leibell, Libous, Little, Marcellino, Maziarz, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Saland, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Winner, and Young. - S3296-G / Thompson: Prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of child care products such as pacifiers, bottles and sippy cups that contain Bisphenol.
- S5119 / Stewart-Cousins: Reduces the State’s waste by prohibiting the purchase and use of non-recyclable paper/mailing products.
21 Republicans voted No on the bill: Alesi, Bonacic, DeFrancisco, Farley, Flanagan, Golden, Griffo, Owen Johnson, Larkin, Libous, Little, Maziarz, McDonald, Nozzolio, Ranzenhofer, Saland, Seward, Skelos, Volker, Winner and Young.
Watch a video of the Democrats' press conference on the passage of this legislation package:
Poison Party?
By Mike Connery on 04/21/2010 @ 11:10 AM
Helping children is usually about as uncontroversial an issue as you can find in politics. Children are our future. Everyone is for children. Unless you're in the New York GOP.
Yesterday, as part of a package of Earth Day related legislation, the State Senate passed a bill sponsored by Brian Foley that prohibits the use of certain toxic chemicals for pesticide and weed control at schools.
Bill Before New York State Lawmakers Would Ban Use of Pesticides on School Playing Fields
Chemical companies are pressing lawmakers to vote against the bill. They say pesticides are highly regulated and safe to use.
Children are especially susceptible to pesticides because of their small size and still-developing organs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rather than a purely chemical approach, the agency recommends schools use Integrated Pest Management, which combines several more organic and less toxic techniques to manage pests and weeds, such as overseeding, mowing grass taller, watering less and applying “compost tea,” a liquefied form of compost.
“Put simply, IPM is a safer, and usually less costly option for effective pest management in a school community,” EPA regulators said.
It's not just safer, though. It could also save schools money in the long term:
Schools would see a slight increase in cost during the first two years of IPM, but after the third year, the price would fall about 25 percent below the costs of chemical lawn treatment, according to a study by Grassroots Environmental Education, a nonprofit public health advocacy group in Nassau County. That group has offered free training to school groundskeepers on ways to care for fields without pesticides.
Keeps kids healthy? Check. Fiscally responsible? Check. So why are 22 GOP Senators opposed to this again?
