“There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics.” Paul Wellstone
The nearing end of the legislative session brought Paul to mind. But forget that for a moment.
Victories for the environment have been few this session, but not non-existent.
The nuclear moratorium repeal went down to defeat in conference committee two days ago.
The Federal Stimulus legislation has passed conference committee. It will create green jobs while insulating thousands of Minnesota homes and retrofitting for energy effeciency public buildings–if Gov. Pawlenty signs it.
The Sensible Communities legislation has several facets in various omnibus bills, the one most likely to become law is the change in school siting requirements. In addition the Metropolitan Council (not the University of Minnesota Transporation Studies Center as our legislation wanted) would study how land use planning can affect vehicle miles traveled and in particular air pollution. They will report back by 2011. Also, the DOT would have a goal to reduce per capita driving by 15% by 2025.
There may be, too, legislation allowing confiscation of ATV’s for repeat offenders. A leasing law that could open our public lands to corporate management has been modified in the Senate.
All of these, of course, remain moot until signed into law.
In the end, though, this will go down as a session devoted mostly to the politics of a dismal budget, billions in the hole thanks to a sinking economy.
Paul Wellstone, standing for re-election in 2002, cast a solitary vote against war in Iraq. He had enormous pressure even from within his own party .
We do not win every fight, but when the environment demands the lone vote against pressure, people know they can count on the Sierra Club. It is in this kind of political context when the forests and lakes, the wolves and the snail darters, the wetlands and the open sky need us the most.