I have always liked the phrase, "Think globally. Act locally." Well, the growing climate crisis presents one of the biggest challenges to our world today. Despite President Bush and the Republicans' determination to allow big business to pollute our environment, there are policies Missouri can implement to support and develop a sustainable economy. Here are the initiatives I will support as state representative:
- Continue Fighting CAFOs: Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) presents many environmental and social problems for Missouri. CAFOs are agricultural facilities that house and feed a large number of animals in a confined area for 45 days or more during any 12-month period. The problems associated with these facilities include antibiotics, pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, and solids such as feed and feathers which can contaminate our water. Currently, local governments can decide to ban CAFOs. However, the Farm Bureau and agri-businesses are fighting to expand their harmful operations in Missouri. I support legislators such as Sen. Bray and Sen. Shoemeyer who fought corporate interests and kept our citizens safe. I will join the fight as state representative.
- Creating a Sustainable Economy: The current climate crisis is not only a moral issue, but also an economic concern. As a state, Missouri must move towards having an economically, environmentally, and socially sound economy. A sustainable economy will achieve two things. One, it will save our people and businesses money over the long run by saving on energy costs. Two, it will keep money here in the United States, instead of sending it overseas to hostile governments for energy. A great place to start this process is through the support of "green" buildings. As state representative, I will work closely with Senator Jeff Smith on a bill he introduced during the 2007 legislative session, SB 649. This bill creates tax incentives for environmentally sustainable building design and construction. It also calls for newly constructed or substantially renovated state building to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Green development will also help to revitalize the blue-collar sector of our economy, providing prosperity to those whose manufacturing and industrial jobs have gone out of state or overseas.
|
