Environmental Legislation: What’s On Your Ballot? (Continued)
Let’s talk about voting. The US Presidential election is TOMORROW on November 3rd. We are here! With recent rollbacks on environmental legislation across the country, at EMA we believe it’s critical to stay informed while voting in your national and your local elections. That’s why we’ve been poring through ballots across the country to identify important environmental legislation that might apply to you. If you missed our last article introducing some environmental policies, you can find it here, and you should also follow us on Instagram to stay in the know about everything related to our planet. In the meantime, let’s get to voting.
Statewide Decisions
New Mexico
Bond Question C
The breakdown:
Bond Question C will allocate more money to community colleges, local schools, and tribal schools. These funds in particular will go toward funding many projects in science, technology, engineering, and math, and will benefit research programs in areas like agriculture and media, as well as contribute to statewide infrastructural improvements. This bond measure has bipartisan support in New Mexico.
How it benefits the environment:
More STEM research can lead to improvements in technology and a greater understanding of environmental phenomena. Campuses can become more sustainable, and the educational outcomes from this bill can create environmental change beyond New Mexico.
Washington
Advisory Vote 32
The breakdown:
There’s currently a plastic bag tax in Washington at 8 cents per bag, and maintaining this measure would make sure it stays in place. This policy is proven to reduce contamination in recycling and compost systems, as well as promote reusable bag use and environmental consciousness.
How it benefits the environment:
The plastic bag tax in a coastal state like Washington has numerous environmental, social, and economic effects. Using taxation to decentivize certain behaviors, like using single use plastics, can ultimately change peoples’ actions. This measure can prevent pollution, lead to more environmental awareness and action, and benefit businesses by saving them the cost of purchasing plastic bags for all of their customers.
Local Decisions
Denver, CO
Ballot Measure 2A: This one is long, but bear with us...
Sales Tax to Fund Environmental and Climate-Related Programs and TABOR Spending Limit Increase (November 2020):
“SHALL CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER SALES AND USE TAXES BE INCREASED BY $40 MILLION ANNUALLY, COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2021, AND BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, FROM A TWENTY-FIVE ONE- HUNDREDTHS OF ONE PERCENT (0.25%) SALES AND USE TAX RATE (2.5 CENTS ON A TEN-DOLLAR PURCHASE) WITH EXEMPTIONS FOR FOOD, WATER, FUEL, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, TO BE USED TO FUND PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTION, AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING:
JOB CREATION THROUGH LOCAL WORKFORCE TRAINING AND NEW CAREERS FOR UNDER-RESOURCED INDIVIDUALS IN RENEWABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES;
INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN SOLAR POWER, BATTERY STORAGE AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY;
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL & CLIMATE JUSTICE PROGRAMS;
ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCY PROGRAMS THAT HELP VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE;
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, CLEAN, SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION CHOICES, LIKE WALKING, BIKING, TRANSIT, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD-SCALE TRANSIT;
UPGRADE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF HOMES, OFFICES AND INDUSTRY TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT, UTILITY BILLS, AND INDOOR AIR POLLUTION;
THIS DEDICATED FUNDING SHOULD MAXIMIZE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, AND COMMUNITIES MOST VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENDEAVOR TO INVEST 50% OF THE DEDICATED FUNDS DIRECTLY IN COMMUNITY WITH A STRONG LENS TOWARD EQUITY AND RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE; THE SPENDING OF FUNDS WILL BE OVERSEEN BY THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE ACTION, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY AND THE CITIZEN'S SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE; ALL FUNDS WILL BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW; AND REQUIRING THAT REVENUES FROM THESE INCREASED TAXES SHALL BE COLLECTED AND SPENT WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY EXPENDITURE, REVENUE-RAISING, OR OTHER LIMITATION CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW?”
The breakdown:
Okay, this one is dense, but after reading through it, it’s one of our favorites. This measure is so thorough and addresses issues ranging from environmental injustice to creating green jobs. It would increase Denver’s sales tax, but it’s also specifically designed to reinvest in the community and environment, which will leave Denver’s citizens better off in the long term.
How it benefits the environment:
Denver’s Climate Action Task Force aims to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2025, and all of the tenets of this legislation will help the city reach its goals. This local measure can also have a ripple effect and encourage other localities to implement similar measures to combat climate change.
Orange County, Florida
Question 1, Prohibit Water Pollution Charter Amendment
“Prohibiting Pollution of the Wekiva River, Econlockhatchee River and all other waters of Orange County. Amending the charter by providing charter protections for the natural rights of the Wekiva and Econlockhatchee Rivers and all other Waters of Orange County by prohibiting pollution, providing a definition of Waters, providing a private right of action and standing for citizens of Orange County to enforce these protections against governmental agencies, non-natural persons or corporate entities that intentionally or negligently pollute the Waters, and providing for severability and exceptions.”
The breakdown:
The language of this measure prohibits water pollution and gives citizens a right to clean water and gives a right and standing for legal action to enforce those stated rights against people or corporations who violate them.
How it benefits the environment:
Florida has a history of manipulating and polluting waterways, and this measure will legally allow waterways to exist, flow, be free of pollution, and maintain healthy ecosystems. Florida’s water is an important resource for both the ecosystems and the people who drink it, and this environmental legislation is the first of its kind in the state.
Let us know what environmental impacts the local measures on your ballot may be, and your state or county could be featured in our next article! Make sure to keep in touch with us on Instagram (@green4EMA) and Facebook (The Environmental Media Association) to stay up to date with more environmental policies on ballots in the United States for the upcoming election.
By Sophia Donskoi