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Medical copays reduce health care access in MS prisons; Israel planted explosives in pagers sold to Hezbollah according to official sources; Serving looks with books: Libraries fight 'fast fashion' by lending clothes; Menhaden decline threatens Virginia's ecosystem, fisheries.

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JD Vance calls for toning down political rhetoric, while calls for his resignation grow because of his own comments. The Secret Service again faces intense criticism, and a right to IVF is again voted down in the US Senate.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

WA Lawmakers Going Home “Greener”

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Thursday, March 13, 2008   

Olympia, WA – As this year's Washington legislative session draws to a close today, it may be remembered as one of the "greenest" in history. Lawmakers have approved an ambitious package of bills that pave the way for setting limits on global warming pollution; providing for green-collar job training; requiring environmental sensitivity in land use planning; and even getting more locally-grown produce into schools. Megan Blanck-Weiss, field and legislative programs director for Futurewise, pushed for the land use planning bill, known as "Local Solutions to Global Warming."

"Tacoma is really on the forefront of this. Spokane is doing great work, and Vancouver has an office of sustainability. The bottom line on this is, we actually need state leadership. We need state support, to make sure that they have the tools and the resources to get it done."

She adds many other cities and counties are eager to get started.

In debating the "Climate Action and Green Jobs" bill, lawmakers agreed cleaner air and less dependence on foreign oil are worthy goals. The bill cuts pollution to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and sets up training for jobs in clean energy industries. K.C. Golden, policy director for Climate Solutions, says these are long-term commitments that will pay off.

"Our state's economy is losing right now over $50 million a day, just to import fossil fuels. It's just a huge drain on our economy, and it compromises our national security - and, despite some fear of the unknown, standing still is no longer a very desirable alternative. We've got to make this transition."

Golden is a member of the Governor's "Climate Advisory Team," which assured lawmakers that the technology is available to meet the goals in the bill, and that the plan will deliver economic benefits.

Another bill that will soon land on Governor Gregoire's desk is a departure from traditional "environmental" legislation. "Local Farms, Healthy Kids" will make more locally-grown food products available to schools and food banks. Tom Geiger of the Washington Environmental Council says it turned out to be one of the most popular bills in both houses.

"It requires a change in law, because right now, most schools have to basically buy the cheapest food available - and that often is not locally-grown, fresh produce. This allows, but does not require, a school to make that change."

Geiger says the bill also would give people the ability to use food stamps at farmers markets. In all, more than $3 million worth of environmental and conservation-related legislation was passed during the 60-day session, and will be funded as part of the newly-updated Washington state budget.




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