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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.

NY Environmental Report Card Shines Light on “Green Divide”

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Thursday, October 13, 2011   

ALBANY, N.Y. - A new report card gives the New York State Senate and Assembly sharply divided grades when it comes to action to protect the environment. Rob Moore, executive director of EPL/Environmental Advocates, says most Democrats and Republicans in the state Assembly scored passing to exceptional grades on the environment, while the Republican-controlled state Senate earned a failing grade on this year's "green" report card.

"Double the number of anti-environmental measures passed the state Senate this year, than the last time that the Republicans actually controlled the state Senate."

Moore says Republicans and Democrats in both chambers in Albany deserve credit for passing "complete streets" legislation, which he says will allow state agencies to do better planning for pedestrians, bicycles and mass transit.

However, the state Senate passed eight measures in the last session that Moore claims would have negative impacts on New York's air, water and land.

"That would do everything from making it harder to make polluters pay for the cost of oil spill clean-ups, to allowing large vehicles access to backcountry roads and trails and natural wildlife habitat."

Natural gas drilling, called "fracking," emerged as a major environmental issue this session, but Moore says only one house in the state legislature was in the ball game.

"The state Assembly passed one of the environmental community's priorities, which would classify the toxic waste generated by hydrofracking as 'hazardous waste,' as it should be. But no hydrofracking bills were allowed a vote in the New York State Senate."

The report card does not grade the governor, but Moore says Cuomo would have received high marks, except for his position on hydrofracking, which Moore describes as "pressing on the pedal" to ensure drilling in New York by 2012.

The voters guide is available at www.eplvotersguide.org.




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