protect babies.org

[Guest guest]

Endorsed by Rendell Update on Toxic Mercury BillsHouse Bill 2610, which would forbid the Commonwealth from adopting stronger standards than the illegal federal proposal on mercury, was formally introduced this week. The bill would stop our state’s plan to protect babies and women from the effects of the potent neurotoxin. This bill was referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee where the Chair, Representative F. Adolph, Jr. (R-Delaware County), is promising a thorough and deliberate approach to the legislation. Fourteen House members who originally co-sponsored House Bill 2610 have pulled their names off the bill, and more withdrawals of support may be in the cards. The companion bill in the Senate, SB 1201, which would also kill

Pennsylvania’s protective and necessary mercury rule, may be on a faster track than the bill in the House. For a complete list of House and Senate co-sponsors of these toxic mercury bills, go to www.pennfuture.org/MercuryPetition/HB2610.pdf. Protect Babies Campaign LaunchedEarlier this week, PennFuture launched a statewide campaign to stop mercury pollution with graphics and a new website, www.protectbabies.org, designed to show legislators and their constituents what's at stake in the fight to reduce mercury from Pennsylvania's coal-fired power plants. The new website provides a one-stop home for citizens who want to take action on mercury. Thousands of posters and stickers with the website and the slogan, "Stop Mercury Pollution - Every Baby Deserves a Great Start," are being distributed across the state, with special

attention to the districts of the sponsors of the legislation to kill DEP's planned mercury rule. As PennFuture VP Jan Jarrett said, "If the Pennsylvania legislature succeeds in killing the Department of Environment Protection's (DEP) state-specific rule that requires our coal-fired power plants to clean up 90 percent of their toxic mercury pollution by 2015," Pennsylvania's babies and their families will pay the price." Editorial Boards Weigh InThe Times-Tribune (Scranton), the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer editorialized in the last week on favor of the mercury rule proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection. The editorial boards of the Pocono Record and The Sentinel (Carlisle) had previously voiced their support. Michigan Joins the Fight to Protect Babies from Mercury Michigan Governor Granholm (D) recently joined Minnesota Governor Tim

Pawlenty ® and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) in endorsing state efforts to reduce mercury emissions from power plants by 90 percent. A Michigan Department of Environmental Quality work group concluded that a 90 percent reduction would cost each residential customer between 15 and 60 cents per month. Twenty-one states, including Pennsylvania, have adopted or are developing state-specific proposals to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. For more information on these efforts, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?a=3 & q=503954. Did you know that PennFuture members receive reduced rates at all PennFuture conferences, luncheons and other events? Make another difference for Pennsylvania today - join PennFuture. Just go to our secure website at www.pennfuture.org. This message is not intended as spam. If you would like to unsubscribe, simply reply to this message with "unsubscribe Session Daze" in the subject line and we will remove your name promptly. Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future610 N. Third St.burg, PA 17101