Your New York State Senator is one of 18 legislators who showed exceptional leadership when it came to protecting the health of the environment this year by supporting all four of the environmental community's priority Super Bills.
The 2008 Super Bills include:
The Wetlands Protection Act would fill a gaping loophole in New York’s wetlands laws that currently leave wetlands under 12.4 acres in size unprotected.
The Global Warming Pollution Cap/Greenhouse Gas Pollution Control Act would set limits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources—cars, homes, factories, schools and more—80 percent by 2050.
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would update New York’s most successful recycling plan to fit the drinking habits of today’s consumers, and earmark unclaimed deposits for the state’s Environmental Protection Fund.
Solar and Wind Net Metering Reforms will expand New York’s net metering policy to include non-residential solar and wind systems. Net metering is the practice that credits consumers for the power they generate themselves. These measures are the only Super Bill that passed both houses this year and await the Governor’s signature.
However, 18 Senators set themselves apart by supporting each of these bills. And their support equals substantial progress toward turning these bills into law.
The Senate’s environmental leaders for the 2008 New York State Legislative Session include:
Members of the Senate: * Neil D. Breslin * Martin Connor * Ruben Diaz, Sr. * Thomas K. Duane * Kemp Hannon * Craig M. Johnson * Liz Krueger * Kenneth P. LaValle * Velmanette Montgomery * George Onorato * Suzi Oppenheimer * Frank Padavan * Kevin S. Parker * Bill Perkins * Eric Schneiderman * Jose Serrano * Andrea Stewart-Cousins * Antoine Thompson
The Super Bills were identified by the members of the Green Panel, which includes representatives of the state's leading environmental organizations, including Environmental Advocates of New York, EPL/Environmental Advocates, Citizens' Environmental Coalition, NRDC, NYPIRG, American Lung Association of New York State, Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter, Environmental Defense, and others.
*note: Because of politics in Albany, minority party members are sometimes not allowed to add their names to the official list of bill sponsors. However, Environmental Advocates of New York documented every member of both houses who requested to be a sponsor and recognizes their desire to do so, whether their name officially appears on the bill or not.
