April 26, 2010

MUSHINSKY PRAISES PASSAGE OF ENVIRONMENT BILLS
Warns Of Pending Anti-Environment Legislation

Hartford — State Representative Mary Mushinsky praised the House of Representatives' approval of a package of environmentally-friendly legislation on Earth Day, April 22nd, while warning that other bills still pending will roll back protections for the environment.

The bills that passed the House encourage more municipal recycling (HB 5120), increase the proper disposal of paints and stains (HB 5122) and aid in the preservation of and conservation of state-owned land (HB 5117).

Mushinsky was concerned that other pending bills would force rollback of long standing environmental laws. In particular, some measures awaiting action would grant automatic pollution permits if the regulating agency did not act quickly enough. "Streamlining and creating efficient processing of permits is a worthy goal, but rolling back long standing environmental law is wrong," Mushinsky said.

Earth Day was first celebrated April 22, 1970. An estimated 20 million Americans demonstrated in cities across the country. In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Mary Mushinsky represents Wallingford's 85th Assembly District. She is House Chair of the Program Review and Investigation Committee and a member of the Select Committee on Children; the Environment; and the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committees.