An Environmental Voting Guide for US State Elections

In these times when states are suffering extreme downward pressure on budgets and spending, how is our environment making out? Did it suffer cuts right along with the Program to Assist Millionaires Become Billionaires? Are important environmental projects being dropped from the budget along with luxury items like the statehouse's new Gold-Plated Enforcement Gavel?

And why is the issue of environmental protection relevant at the state level? Doesn't the US Environmental Protection Agency handle all that stuff? This article answers these questions and provides smart-voting tools for you to help ensure your surroundings remain green and healthful.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL

While the US Environmental Protection Agency garners much of the media attention when it comes to environmental enforcement, it is actually the states that are carrying most of the load:

• 75% of the federal programs that can be delegated to states have been delegated;

• 90% of environmental enforcement actions are taken by the states;

• 94% of the data in EPA databases came from the states.

In 2003, states were only spending 1.4% of their budget on environment and natural resources--an all-time low, according to Resources for the Future (www.rff.org).

Reducing resources at the state and local levels can cut the heart out of the monitoring and enforcement actions needed to ensure that our air, water, and land--and our bodies--are protected from environmental toxins. Even more troublesome are elected officials who have a weak commitment to the environment. The back-room deals cut in your governor's mansion, your statehouse, and your county council chambers can have a great impact on the environment.

STATE-BY-STATE ENVIRONMENTAL VOTING GUIDES

What have YOUR elected local officials been doing to (or for) your state and county environmental agencies, and how have they voted on environmental issues in general? Did your state legislators fund the widening of the Porkbarrel Parkway while downsizing your state's Department of Natural Resources? Find out! Grinning Planet has compiled a list of the best available environmental voting guides for all 50 US states. Find it at http://www.grinningplanet.com/vote/, along with some other helpful voting tools.

Also, don't forget about your county elections. Many important issues, such as land use and recycling programs, are usually decided at the county level. The state-level organizations we list sometimes feature links to related county or regional groups. You can also check with your local chapter of the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) to see if they have a county-level voting guide.

About The Author

© 2003 by http://www.GrinningPlanet.com

Mark is a writer, financial analyst, web developer, environmentalist, and, as necessary, chef and janitor. Grinning Planet is an expression of Mark's enthusiasm for all things humorous and green, as well as a psychotic desire to work himself half-to-death. Hobbies include health foods, music, getting frustrated over politics, and occasionally lecturing the TV set on how uncreative it is. bluebuck@grinningplanet.com

---

The Economics of Cloning Armies or Super Families

Let's put the religious part of the debate for a... Read More

Just War

In an age of terrorism, guerilla and total warfare the... Read More

International Terrorists Have US Partners; The Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission in their latest move to increase... Read More

Homeless, Trash, Drugs and Transient Issues

In Police Magazine I read a great article about transient... Read More

UAV Materials and Thoughts on New Technologies and Keeping Up With Our Opponents

Possible UAV materials are infinite: Foam, Composite, Balsa Wood, Plastic,... Read More

If the Water is Polluted, Ever Wonder What is in it?

I would like to discuss a few issues we have... Read More

Alternative to Land Mines in Middle East

With the recent threats from Bin Laden and Al Queda... Read More

Arson Neighborhood Mobile Watch Program for Summer Fire Season

Due to the bizarre weather patterns this winter California got... Read More

We Are Turning a Corner in Foreign Relations, Thanks GW Bush!

Kudos goes out to the George Walker Bush's Administration and... Read More

Voters are to Blame for Bad Politics

When I was growing up, I actually considered a career... Read More

The Reconstruction of Europe

The Second World War was the continuation of World War... Read More

Population and Transportation in the Modern Era of International Terrorism

It is important as populations expand to work on the... Read More

Dismal Performance of the NSA

The NSA failed the American people and allowed the attack... Read More

What Did You Do In The War Daddy?

This is the first of a series of four articles... Read More

Why One May Not be able to Locate Your Lost Money in the States Unclaimed Property Database

With respect to the States' databases, you may not locate... Read More

Elliot Spitzer Blows Chunks

This is the beginning of the end for the man... Read More

Super Voting Ink and Vaccines

In the future when we decide to help nations vote... Read More

The Black Flag Of Anarchy

Rational, sober, logical citizens wonder what exactly the terrorists want.... Read More

Whose Afraid of the Government; Whose the Government Afraid of?

We need a government that can be as responsive to... Read More

Competition Laws

A. THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPETITIONThe aims of competition (anti-trust) laws... Read More

Image is Everything in Redevelopment Projects

Revitalization Downtown projects are all the rage in fact the... Read More

Jay Hammond - Alaska Governor and Creator of the Permanent Fund

Former Governor of Alaska, Jay Hammond, died at age 83,... Read More

Should Judgeships Be a Political Event?

Thought of the day; Questions about the judicial system. If... Read More

Canning International Terrorists? Literally

Well here is a great new product, we first saw... Read More

Using a Meteor Shower as Decoy for ICBM Attack

In the event of that a threatening nation to the... Read More

How Does the US Congress Really Work?

Many people do not understand politics very well. They often... Read More

Carl von Clausewitz On War

For anyone who wishes to become an armchair General in... Read More

Time for a New Canadian Party

It is time for a change. A change in philosophy,... Read More

Ohio Department of Transportation; Sector Economic Reality

Ohio's transportation sector seems to be strong, even with Ohio's... Read More

Accounting Nightmare at the FTC

Most government agencies cannot pass an audit of their expenses.... Read More

MORAL ARMORS Counterfeit 911: Refuting Michael Moore

Michael Moore asserts the following in his political film Fahrenheit... Read More

Media and the Iraq War, Some Random Thoughts Indeed 2001

Here are some miscellaneous thoughts on issues many of which... Read More

Maximizing Efficiency at Our Airports

Our Airports have excess capacity, which is not being used... Read More