Environment Update - April 2
Energy
Utility and corporate interests stomped on consumers and common sense Wednesday in killing the two keystone recommendations from the Global Warming Commission in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee. We lost the battle, but will not lose the war -- change is coming. You can see video of the hearings and follow the debate yourself at (fix link). You can also see the press release we sent out after the bills’ defeats at (Fix link)
- HB1903 by Rep. Cash would have provided people rebates and assistance to improve the energy efficiency of homes and businesses with things like insulation, better windows, better heat and air systems, better lighting, etc. It would have saved consumers as much as $700 million over 10 years, created jobs and helped the environment. The bill didn’t have enough support among committee members to even come up for a vote. It was referred to an interim study, so more hearings will happen on energy efficiency next year.
- HB1851 by Rep. Webb would have created a renewable energy industry in Arkansas and it failed in committee with only 6 yes votes (it takes 11 votes to pass). You can see the exact roll call of committee members here.
Environment
HB1746 by Rep. Edwards to create a Task Force on Water Source Protection has passed the House (97 Yes - 3 not voting) and is now in the Senate Agriculture Committee. This is a good bill that will find ways to better protect critical drinking water sources.
SJR3 is a bill by Sen. Faris that threatens the ability of the Game and Fish Commission to regulate hunting and fishing by establishing the Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish. That sounds reasonable, but it means that attempts to establish seasons for game, manage game populations by limiting catches, and other essential game management practices could be unconstitutional. This bill is supported by the NRA and you can imagine the challenge that cities might have keeping people from using hunting rifles within city limits if it were their constitutional right to hunt where they please. Each legislature is allowed to place three possible constitutional amendments on the ballot each session and this is one of the three that the State Agencies Committee is recommending. Call your House member and ask them to VOTE NO on SJR3
Ethics
HB1968 by Rep. Webb to ban conflicts of interest failed on the House Floor 38-47. The bill would have added very modest improvements to existing ethics laws to ban members of regulatory boards and commissions from voting or lobbying on issues where they, their family or employer have a direct financial interest. How could such a common sense bill fail you might ask? Ask the Arkansas Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce.
