Popular FAQ on Modifying the Toyota Supra Low Speed Impact "Injury" Facts Effective Online Car Sales on Ebay Motors Latest News Bacteria and Food-borne Diseases Buying the Perfect Computer – The FIRST Time How Do I Define My Market? Home Articles Family An Environmental Voting Guide for US State Elections Search our articles now! An Environmental Voting Guide for US State Elections User Rating: / 0 PoorBest  Written by Mark Jeantheau    In these times when states are suffering extreme downward pressure on budgets and spending, how is our environment making out? Did it suffer cuts right along with the Program to Assist Millionaires Become Billionaires? Are important environmental .... An Environmental Voting Guide for US State Elections by: Mark Jeantheau In these times when states are suffering extreme downward pressure on budgets and spending, how is our environment making out? Did it suffer cuts right along with the Program to Assist Millionaires Become Billionaires? Are important environmental projects being dropped from the budget along with luxury items like the statehouse's new Gold-Plated Enforcement Gavel? And why is the issue of environmental protection relevant at the state level? Doesn't the US Environmental Protection Agency handle all that stuff? This article answers these questions and provides smart-voting tools for you to help ensure your surroundings remain green and healthful. ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL While the US Environmental Protection Agency garners much of the media attention when it comes to environmental enforcement, it is actually the states that are carrying most of the load: 75% of the federal programs that can be delegated to states have been delegated; 90% of environmental enforcement actions are taken by the states; 94% of the data in EPA databases came from the states. In 2003, states were only spending 1.4% of their budget on environment and natural resources--an all-time low, according to Resources for the Future (www.rff.org). Reducing resources at the state and local levels can cut the heart out of the monitoring and enforcement actions needed to ensure that our air, water, and land--and our bodies--are protected from environmental toxins. Even more troublesome are elected officials who have a weak commitment to the environment. The back-room deals cut in your governor's mansion, your statehouse, and your county council chambers can have a great impact on the environment. STATE-BY-STATE ENVIRONMENTAL VOTING GUIDES What have YOUR elected local officials been doing to (or for) your state and county environmental agencies, and how have they voted on environmental issues in general? Did your state legislators fund the widening of the Porkbarrel Parkway while downsizing your state's Department of Natural Resources? Find out! Grinning Planet has compiled a list of the best available environmental voting guides for all 50 US states. Find it at http://www.grinningplanet.com/vote/, along with some other helpful voting tools. Also, don't forget about your county elections. Many important issues, such as land use and recycling programs, are usually decided at the county level. The state-level organizations we list sometimes feature links to related county or regional groups. You can also check with your local chapter of the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) to see if they have a county-level voting guide. See Article at http://www.grinningplanet.com/vote/ © 2003 by http://www.GrinningPlanet.com About The Author © 2003 by http://www.GrinningPlanet.com Mark is a writer, financial analyst, web developer, environmentalist, and, as necessary, chef and janitor. Grinning Planet is an expression of Mark's enthusiasm for all things humorous and green, as well as a psychotic desire to work himself half-to-death. Hobbies include health foods, music, getting frustrated over politics, and occasionally lecturing the TV set on how uncreative it is. This article was posted on September 30, 2004   < Prev   Next > [ Back ] Random News If You Drive - Consider A Greener Fuel As Smog Season Begins (NC)-As the first smog alert warnings of the season approach, Canadians are being urged to use ethanol-blended fuel to alleviate the urban smog problems plaguing many parts of the country. Many regions such Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and most pa.... Read more Low Speed Impact "Injury" Facts Low Speed impacts are those that take pace at speeds under 10 MPH. There’s often little (if any) visible Property Damage done to the rear of ones motor vehicle. However, those who are struck (especially in the rear) often have injuries, especially.... Read more Selling Effectively on Ebay Motors Remember back when selling online was a new experience? Dealers tried everything to sell their vehicles online. Today’s market has expanded to include several hot online marketplaces but there is the largest online marketplace, Ebay. Ebay has e.... Read more Effective Online Car Sales on Ebay Motors Remember back when selling online was a new experience? Dealers tried everything to sell their vehicles online. Today’s market has expanded to include several hot online marketplaces. The largest online marketplace is Ebay. Ebay has evolved in.... Read more FAQ on Modifying the Toyota Supra What does BPU™ stand for? (BPU™ is a trademark of SupraStore.com)Basic Performance Upgrades. These modifications are: A full length three inch down-pipe (with or with-out high flow cats), 3” (75mm) or bigger cat-back exhaust system, raised boost.... Read more