ENVIRONMENT Republican Nick Spano has followed George
Bush’s lead against stronger environmental regulations
as well as against additional funding for environmental
protection.
GEORGE BUSH
NICK SPANO
• Against Key Environmental
Issues : Bush blocked implementation of a
tighter limit on the amount of arsenic in water, suspended
new cleanup requirements for mining companies, abandoned
US participation in the Kyoto global warming treaty
and renounced a campaign promise to restrict carbon
dioxide emissions.
• Against Key
Environmental Issues : Spano and Senate Republicans
failed to support the four environmental “Super
Bills,” including the Bigger, Better Bottle
Bill, and received a failing grade – 66% –
from the New York Environmental Advocates in their
2006 voter guide.
• Weakening Existing
Clean Air Laws : Bush lobbied to weaken the
Clean Air Act enforcement and pushed his “Clear
Skies” program that eliminates many compliance
measures.
• Weakening Existing
Clean Air Laws : Spano voted to diminish
New York’s ability to comply with the federal
Clean Air Law (S.7355-A – 1996).
• Weakened Brownfield
Cleanups : Bush weakened Brownfield’s
clean up efforts and supports “more flexibility”
in cleanup regulations as well as liability protection
for re-developers.
• Against the Clean
Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act : Spano
and Senate Republicans failed to support legislation
which would fix a gaping loophole in the state's wetlands
protection law by giving the NYS Department of Environmental
Conservation the authority to protect wetlands that
were once, but not currently, protected by the US
Army Corps of Engineers.
