Let's compare plans: Environmental Justice

[Feanorcurufinwe]

John Kerry' plan to make environmental justice a national priority:

CREATE ENVIRONMENTAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES

John Kerry proposed creating Environmental Empowerment Zones to ensure that environmental justice is considered in decisions that affect these communities and, more importantly, to empower communities from the ground up for positive change. By empowering local officials and citizen leaders, Environmental Empowerment Zones will overcome economic, civic and cultural barriers and help ensure that no community will be forced to live with a dirty and unhealthy environment. These zones will be designated areas where the federal government will make sure its resources are backing up the fight for environmental justice and where communities will get help to build a better environment for themselves from the ground up.

CREATE A HEALTH TRACKING SYSTEM

John Kerry also pledged to create a national health tracking system for chronic diseases and environmental health hazards. The proposal calls for tracking asthma and other debilitating illnesses linked to environmental causes that are not now monitored in any comprehensive manner. It would place an environmental health officer in each state and coordinate pollution and disease data nationally.

GIVE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE A STRONGER FEDERAL ROLE

John Kerry will reinvigorate action on environmental justice at the federal level. He proposed creating a new Assistant Administrator position for Environmental Justice at the EPA and will revive the Office of Environmental Justice. Today, this office is under-staffed, under-funded, and undermined on a daily basis. Kerry will bring life back to this office so that it can serve as a resource and advocate for community activists all over America.

John Kerry will also build on President Clinton’s 1994 Executive Order to include environmental justice in laws, regulations and policies.President Clinton required all federal agencies to address environmental injustice, past, present and future and required federal agencies to develop strategies to bring justice to Americans who are suffering disproportionately from environmental impacts. President Bush pledged to uphold this Clinton initiative but he has fallen short of that goal. A recent report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found fault with four federal agencies for failing to adequately include environmental justice in their work and program goals. As President, John Kerry will enforce this order and ensure that low-income communities and communities of color have access to information about their environment and that have an opportunity to participate in shaping government policies that affect their health and their environment.
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/environment_justice.html

What are the other candidates' plans for Environmental Justice?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Is Kerry alone in addressing this issue?

[MrSoundAndVision]

2. Give me two minutes

and I'll be back with Kucinich's environmental policies.

[MrSoundAndVision]

3. From kucinich.us

As President, I will lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers and rural environments -- and I have been speaking out on these issues across America. I will also lead in fighting for clean, affordable and accessible drinking water --which is an emerging global concern. Over the years, I have worked hand-in-hand with the environmental movement on many battles, from thwarting a nuclear waste dump to boosting organics to demanding labels on genetically-engineered products. I've won honors from the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth and League of Conservation Voters.

Last summer, I was one of the few U.S. officials at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. To repair the earth, America must lead. A Kucinich Administration would reverse course on most Bush Administration policies and support the Kyoto Treaty that Bush rejected. My Administration would strengthen environmental laws and increase penalties on polluters. It would provide tax and other incentives to businesses that conserve energy, retrofit pollution prevention technologies, and redesign toxins out of their manufacturing processes. Nontoxic, safe substitutes for hazardous chemicals must become permanent.

I will initiate a "Global Green Deal" for renewable energy, to provide jobs at home, increase our independence from foreign oil, and aid developing nations with cheap, dependable, renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. A clean environment, a sustainable economy, and an intact ozone layer are not luxuries, but necessities for our planet's future.

Kucinich has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, which has compiled extensive information on his environmental record: http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=93

[MrSoundAndVision]

4. Seems like John Kerry is the most....

highly scored by the League of Conservation Voters...hat's off, he got a 96%, Lieberman got a 93%, and Kucinich a 90%. The other are far less or n/a. However, please click http://www.kucinich.us and read a little on the other issues in which Dennis Kucinich stands out as the candidate to take this country in the best direction. Imagine, publicly paid college and pre-school. Imagine, publicly paid health care system with your taxes: No more deals or tricky solutions, which by the way will come from a Pentagon budget cut of 15%. Sounds good huh?

[blm]

6. Kerry and Kucinich are the closest on alot of issues.

Once you take away the rhetoric of the media, you'll see two candidates more closely aligned than many realize. That's why they are my two favorite liberals in the race.

[nocreativename]

7. UMMMM

I work for a nonprofit environmental org. I've post this a couple times today.

WHERE WAS KERRY ON THE

Leavitt Vote

Boxer's Superfund Bill

Healthy Forest Vote

Roadless Forest Vote

End Commercial Logging Bill

Global Warming Vote

Should I go on?

MY ASS BEST ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Yes. please do go on

Why don't you actually say what you are trying to say?

You ask us "WHERE WAS KERRY ON THE etc...."

Do you know the answers? Why don't you tell us? What are you actually accusing Kerry of? Or are you just trying to smear him?


You state, oh so eloquently: "MY ASS BEST ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD!"

OK then, who's gotta a better environmental record? Based on what?


"When it comes to protecting our environment, Sen. John Kerry leads where others falter," said Deb Callahan, national president of the League of Conservation Voters (96.5% Lifetime Rating)

[nocreativename]

9. I'm just saying

He was not there. If he is going to say he's the best on the environment then you should vote to protect the environment. Be more like Boxer, McDermott, Inslee, Cambell, Cantwell, even Leach or Jeffords.

Here's some more
The Asbestos Bill
The Farm Bill Last Year
The Energy Bill this Year

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Who are you saying has a better environmental record? WHO?

So you are accusing Kerry of missing some votes? What was the margin of those votes? Why don't you post some bill numbers so we can check to see if you are telling the truth and whether his vote have mattered?

For example, you cite 'The Farm Bill Last Year' and say Kerry didn't vote on it.

THAT ASSERTION IS FALSE:

Agriculture Overhaul - Passage


Bill Number: HR 2646
Issue: Agriculture
Date: 02/13/2002
Sponsor: House bill, HR 2646 sponsored by Combest, R-TX, Senate bill, S 1731 sponsored by Harkin, D-IA


Roll Call Number: 0030
Bill passed
Full Member List

Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.

Vote to pass a bill that would replace the Freedom to farm Act and would authorize $45 billion in new spending for federal agriculture programs over five years, including a provision that would allow $2 billion in direct federal subsidies to milk producers.

HR 2646 Farm Security Act of 2001

Vote to pass a bill that would replace the Freedom to farm Act and would authorize $45 billion in new spending for federal agriculture programs over five years, including a provision that would allow $2 billion in direct federal subsidies to milk producers. The bill would also reinstate programs that provide farmers with payments when commodity prices decline below a specific level.
Note: The Senate inserted the text of S 1731, the Senate Farm Aid bill, into HR 2646 before passage.
(House bill, HR 2646 sponsored by Combest, R-TX, Senate bill, S 1731 sponsored by Harkin, D-IA)
Bill passed 58-40: R 9-38; D 48-2; I 1-0 on 02/13/2002.

Bill Status: As of 11/03/2003
Bill Number: HR 2646- 107th Congress (2001-2002)
House Passage Vote: 10/25/2001-Outcome: Passed
Senate Passage Vote: 02/13/2002-Outcome: Passed
House Conference Report Vote: 05/02/2002-Outcome: Passed
Senate Conference Report Vote:05/08/2002-Outcome: Passed
Presidential Action: Signed on 05/13/2002-Outcome: Passed
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=3154&can_id=S0421103

Farm Bill -Conference Report


Bill Number: HR 2646
Issue: Agriculture
Date: 05/07/2002
Sponsor: Bill sponsored by Combest , R-TX


Roll Call Number: 103
Bill passed
Full Member List

Senator John Forbes Kerry voted YES.

Vote to adopt a conference report on a bill that would reauthorize for six years, the federal agriculture programs.

HR 2646 Farm Aid bill

Vote to adopt a conference report on a bill that would reauthorize for six years, the federal agriculture programs. The agreement would restore programs that provide payments to farmers when commodity prices drop below a particular level. It would increase direct and mandatory farm program spending by $73.5 billion over 10 years, provide $243 billion for food stamps and re-establish benefits for legal immigrants, and raise conservation spending to $17.1 billion. After two years, the agreement would call for the labeling of certain goods by country origin. It would also reduce the total limit on payments to individual farmers to $360,000 and approve for three and a half years, a new $1 billion dairy program

(Bill sponsored by Combest , R-TX)
Passed by a vote of 64-35: R 20-28; D 43-7; I 1-0

Bill Status: As of 11/03/2003
Bill Number: HR 2646- 107th Congress (2001-2002)
House Passage Vote: 10/25/2001-Outcome: Passed
Senate Passage Vote: 02/13/2002-Outcome: Passed
House Conference Report Vote: 05/02/2002-Outcome: Passed
Senate Conference Report Vote:05/08/2002-Outcome: Passed
Presidential Action: Signed on 05/13/2002-Outcome: Passed
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?vote_id=3177&can_id=S0421103

Well that's the first one I checked. Why don't you show some evidence that at least one of your smears is based on reality?


You also, for example, compare Kerry's record with Boxer's (is she running for President?) and say her record is better:

1999-2000 On the votes that the League of Conservation Voters considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Senator Boxer voted their preferred position 88 percent of the time.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0105103#Environment

1999-2000 On the votes that the League of Conservation Voters considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Senator Kerry voted their preferred position 94 percent of the time.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0421103#Environment

Let's see more from you than unsubstantiated, untrue smears, please.

[nocreativename]

11. ok here are the most the ones that just happend

I work for a non profit environmental org. And it just bugs me to here Kerry called a great enviro. It kind of like Calling Gore a great enviro while he runs a large oil company in south america.

The LCV does not take in to account active work just votes.

These are the biggest votes and Kerry did not stand up at all.
7. H.R.1904 : An act to improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands aimed at protecting communities, watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McInnis, Scott (introduced 5/1/2003) Cosponsors: 137
Committees: House Agriculture; House Resources; House Judiciary; Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 10/30/2003 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 14. Record Vote Number: 428.
Kerry did not even vote


U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 108th Congress - 1st Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Question: On the Nomination (Confirmation: Michael O. Leavitt, of Utah to be Administrator of the E.P.A. )
Vote Number: 412 Vote Date: October 28, 2003, 10:41 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Nomination Confirmed
Nomination Number: PN884
Nomination Description: Michael O. Leavitt, of Utah, to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Vote Counts: YEAs 88
NAYs 8
Not Voting 4

Sorry. it's not an attack, just an enviro who does not like green washing.

again these are the two big ones.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. No Senator could ever run for President if they took your view.

So the votes were

80-14-6?
88-8-4?

and you are saying Kerry is not an environmentalist because instead of making meaningless roll call votes he's busy running for President and proposing things like the subject of this thread, which you have so studiously ignored?

And who was it that you said has a better environmental record again?

Who?

Who?

[nocreativename]

13. I gave you a list

Non of them are enviro's I like dean but you will never hear me deffend his enviro record.

there's your who


If he was an environmental leader he would have been there with Cantwell and boxer. That's what I'm saying he is NOT an environmenal leader so stop trying to say he is!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

14. Your 'facts' are dead wrong.

As I've shown.

At least you've managed to be creative when talking about Kerry's record. :eyes:

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. You made a false assertion about the Farm bill. Why?

Is it impossible to make your case while being truthful?

[redqueen]

17. Did you see the article about the protest?

They were using pumpkins or something?

It was very sad. :(

on edit:

I know some here don't like Counterpunch, but here it is anyway (apologies if this has already been covered here):

Democrats Trick the Greens, Treat Big Timber

"After years of playing the hapless Charlie Brown as Lucy Democrats pulled away the protection football time after time, it's perhaps only fitting that the best the hapless environmental movement can muster following its major defeat on Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative, now forever enshrined as the Cochran-Wyden-Feinstein Act, is to hold a cartoon protest. Halloween will see folks meeting outside the offices of Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Diane Feinstien (D-CA), both darlings of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) who maintain their 80% positive rating from the group precisely because the Democrat Party front group LCV studiously avoids using such votes in their calculations.

Will the folks be tearing down the walls to get at their "champions?" Will they be "locking down" to show their displeasure? Will they demand that no one ever support the conniving Democrats again? No. They'll be participating in the Great Pumpkin Protest, taking out their frustration on innocent pumpkins rather than their turncoat senators. The too cutely named Texas Chainsaw Massacre (get it? nudge, wink) protest will run under the "Carve Pumpkins, Not Forests" slogan.

It used to be that one could count on the oil-foundation-paid Democrat sycophants in the green movement to come up with clever, if mendacious, pro-Democrat distractions -- like the worse-than-useless Roadless Rule that Big Green dreamed up to take the 2000 election-year focus off of the horrid environmental record of the Clinton/Gore administration. After sucking up all available funding and all the air time for over a year, the Roadless Rule was finally put in place by Clinton -- literally hours before he left office. Of course, it protects nothing.

As Denise Boggs of the Utah Environmental Congress noted when informed of the Great Pumpkin Protest, "I still think the dumbest thing was the Roadless Rule--short-sighted; no strategic thinking; opened roadless areas to pressures we had largely stopped {in some areas}; and redefined the definition of roadless to weaken it. Now that's STUPID! And we ended with nothing actually protected on the ground."

[DrFunkenstein]

18. Kerry's Statement On Leavitt

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry today issued the following statement regarding the nomination hearing for Governor Michael Leavitt for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency:

“From the air we breathe to the water we drink, the environment is worse off under the Bush Administration. I have a number of outstanding issues with the EPA, but there are two, in particular, that I believe warrant immediate attention. I will place a hold on Governor Leavitt’s nomination until I receive a sufficient response as to how this Administration will address my concerns over these two issues.

“First, in July 2003, the EPA announced that it would be delaying cleanup of ten Superfund sites. One of the sites is in my home state – Atlas Tack in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The Atlas Tack Superfund site contains cyanide, heavy metals, pesticides, and PCBs. Some 7,000 people live within a one mile of the site. Yet, for the second year in a row, the Bush Administration has provided exactly zero dollars for cleanup. This is only as outrageous as it is emblematic of the environmental priorities of the Bush Administration.

“People in communities like Fairhaven, who live with the Atlas Tack Superfund site in their backyard, should not be told that they’re just going to have to live with the cyanide and PCBs because for the second year in a row EPA just can’t find the monetary resources to help them. And they shouldn’t be stuck with an Administration that can’t do a better job protecting our nation’s public health and the health of the environment from toxic waste. They deserve better and this Administration must articulate how they are going to do right by the people of Fairhaven.

“Second, Senator Clinton has requested information surrounding revelations that the White House edited EPA public announcements regarding the air pollution and air quality near Ground Zero following the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Her requests have gone unanswered. This is a serious issue that has consequences not only for citizens of New York, but also for the quality of our environment and the trust in our government.

“The unfortunate truth is that it doesn’t matter who heads the EPA under this Administration, because they will be nothing more than another pawn for the corporate polluters who control the White House’s agenda. Governor Leavitt may eventually be approved by the Senate, but I cannot in good conscience allow that process to even move forward without getting the answers that the people of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, New York City, and communities across the nation deserve.”

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. The opposite of Environmetal Justice is Environmental Racism

Kerry has also recently spoken out about eliminating racial health disparities:

“Closing racial health disparities is an urgent priority. That is why I am proud to add my strong support for the new Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act and as President I would make it a top priority to close these gaps.

The litany of statistics is harrowing: Infant mortality rates are 2.5 times higher among African-Americans than whites, African-Americans are also twice as likely to have diabetes, 9.5 times more likely to contract HIV, and more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The numbers are similarly disturbing for Hispanics and other minority communities.

While minority populations are disproportionately affected by so many diseases, these populations are less likely to have health insurance and to receive vital services like prenatal care, mammograms and diagnostic tests for heart disease. Lack of insurance is not the only problem. Studies have shown that minority group members receive lower-quality healthcare even when insurance status and income are factored in.

The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act takes important steps to combat these problems. It expands health coverage in minority communities by expanding eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and making enrollment easier. It also addresses the dearth of minority health care providers and removes linguistic and cultural barriers in our health care system. We need to take these steps and more until we close racial health disparities for once and for all.”
http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/pr_2003_1031b.html

[Tom Rinaldo]

19. Clark's plans

I just put up a thread with a host of his positions detailed, taken from his response to tquestions asked by he League of Conservation Voters. The full text can be found at

http://www.enviros4clark.com/lcv.shtml