Kerry on Failure of Senate to Demand Administration Improve Mercury Rules

[kerrygoddess]

Senator John Kerry on Failure of Senate to Demand Administration Improve Mercury Rules
September 13th, 2005

The Senate failed to pass S.J.Res. 20, today. It was “a challenge to the Bush administration’s strategy on mercury pollution, leaving intact federal rules that give power plants flexibility in how they reduce emissions of the dangerous toxin.”

Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on today’s vote in the Senate to demand the Bush Administration change its mercury rules. The measure failed on a vote of 51-47.

“Washington really failed the American people on this one. We had a unique opportunity to send President Bush back to the drawing board with his flawed mercury plan but we lost. The real losers, however, are American families, especially those in New England. The Merrimack River Valley in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and the Penobscot River area in Maine have been classified as ‘bio-hotspots’ due to dangerously high levels of mercury.

“The number of babies with dangerous levels of mercury in their blood has doubled. Every year more than 600,000 infants are born with dangerously high mercury levels. One in six women of child bearing age in the United States carries enough accumulated mercury in her body to pose health risks to her children should she become pregnant. The National Academy of Sciences has confirmed that unsafe levels of mercury in fish can directly lead to learning disabilities, seizures and cerebral palsy in children. Forty-five states have fish advisories for mercury warning pregnant women and children to limit their consumption of many fish caught in freshwater.

“This is a simple question of right and wrong. Mercury pollution must be controlled better and faster. It’s unacceptable to allow President Bush to give the industry a pass when our children will pay the price.”

LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=536

[Q]

1. fess up...

...are you Kerry's Press Agent?

[LittleClarkie]

2. 'cause, you know, nobody could actually like the guy

Nah, that couldn't be it. We were all ABB.

Fess up, you're really Rush Limbaugh, right?

[Q]

3. Liking the guy...

...and actively over-promoting him are two different things. Several threads a day seems a bit much. Do we really need to know Kerry's every thought and action? What's next? Notification of when he passes gas?

Here's an idea: why not put all these threads together and give us ONE daily update?

[LittleClarkie]

5. You dare to criticize the GODDESS

foolish, foolish mortal. She will crush you like a grape! (pinching with thumb and forefinger) Crush, crush.

She's not the DeanGoddess, after all. It's her gig. My gig is to repost her stuff on Kos. I've been consolidating over there as of late, because they only allow one diary now.

Even so, I get nailed. I too have been called a paid staffer, as well as a sychophant, an apologist, and a bot.

I've seen our goddess do the one a day thing. But Herr Kerry is being a busy boy as of late. Hence, we have a busy goddess on our hands.

But not too busy to crush you like a grape! Crush, crush!

[FrenchieCat]

6. Kerry's a working Senator....so he will be "Doing" things and

putting out Press releases until he's no longer in politics.

This is just a fact. :shrug:

My daughter just started school in Cambridge, and she confirms that John Kerry is the junior Senator of Massachussets who was the Democratic Candidate in 2004.

We will continue to hear about John Kerry and what he is doing.....and since he's one of the good guys, it's all good! :hi:

[Mass]

8. On that one, I sure would have liked that people post the PR of every

senator protested and that people have blamed those Democrats who voted against it (I am sure Kerry is not the only one).

Unfortunately, these issues dont get any attention on DU, and those who vote against them are immediately excused.

[TayTay]

10. That is a good idea

This is Democratic Underground. I enjoy hearing about what Dems are doing in Congress. I loved reading the stuff from Rep. Conyers office as he completely and totally rocks.

It is a way of being updated on who is doing what. I like it. I wouldn't mind if more people did this for more elected Dems press releases. It beats some of the no-content threads by a mile.

[wisteria]

4. I enjoy these updates on John Kerry! Thank you!

Contrary to some peoples misguided opinions and feelings about Kerry, I think you provide a great service. I want to know what Kerry is up to and what his opinions are, I hope he has another opportunity to run for President again and I consider your updates important and informative. I glad he is still working for the people, even if some people don't appreciate it.

[Lilli]

13. Me too!

Thanks KG!

[politicasista]

7. Thanks KG!

Ignore the haters. :kick:

[LiviaOlivia]

9. kick

[chiffon]

11. Thanks for the information and update KG. Keep it coming please.

:kick: and recommended.

[lfairban]

12. Glad to hear it.

Mercury has slipped from the public awareness of late.

Here in Ohio, we have a mercury problem with the fish from Lake Erie. The lake is a popular spot for recreational fishing. People bring home the very tasty Walleye. If you have never tasted Walleye, you are missing out. It has a mild, almost lobster like taste.

Recent estimates place the annual amounts of mercury released into the air by human activities at between 50 and 75 percent of the total yearly input to the atmosphere from all sources. Some of the air emissions are deposited on land and water within several hundred miles of the source.

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/1999/July/Day-06/f16930.htm

Mercury emitted from coal-fired power plants comes from mercury in coal, which is released when the coal is burned. While coal-fired power plants are the largest remaining source of human-generated mercury emissions in the United States, they contribute very little to the global mercury pool. Recent estimates of annual total global mercury emissions from all sources -- both natural and human-generated -- range from roughly 4,400 to 7,500 tons per year. Human-caused U.S. mercury emissions are estimated to account for roughly 3 percent of the global total, and U.S. coal-fired power plants are estimated to account for only about 1 percent.

<snip>

U.S. coal-fired power plants emit mercury in three different forms: oxidized mercury (likely to deposit within the U.S.); elemental mercury, which travels hundreds and thousands of miles before depositing to land and water; and mercury that is in particulate form.

http://www.epa.gov/air/mercuryrule/basic.htm



My Mercury Links