Murphy vetoes plastic bag tax, tells lawmakers to try again
News Article • 8/27/2018 • by Michael Sol Warren at NJ.com
Try again.
That's the message that Gov. Phil Murphy is sending to state lawmakers after vetoing a proposed fee on plastic and paper single-use shopping bags in New Jersey.
Murphy announced Monday morning he vetoed bill, which would have placed a five-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags handed out by retailers statewide.
The money collected by the fee would have been placed in a new fund administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to help pay for lead abatement projects.
In his statement on the veto, Murphy made it clear that he didn't think the bill went far enough. He called the issue a "critical policy area" and detailed the environmental threats posed by plastic waste, from clogging urban water infrastructure to littering New Jersey's parks and beaches.
"While well intentioned, the approach reflected in this bill strikes me as incomplete and insufficient," Murphy wrote. "Instituting a five-cent fee on single-use bags that only applies to certain retailers does not go far enough to address the problems created by overreliance on plastic bags and other single-use carryout bags."
Governor Murphy Vetoes Bag Fee Bill
Press Release • 8/27/2018
"Governor Murphy had the chance to reduce New Jersey's plastic pollution by closing loopholes and allowing the legislature to pass a stronger bill. Without any kind of law to reduce single-use bags, our state will continue to be overrun by dangerous pollution that threatens the health of New Jersey families and businesses. We look forward to working with the Legislature to combat this problem and make New Jersey an environmental leader once again," said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
Phil Murphy to veto bill imposing 5-cent fee on plastic grocery bags. Is a ban next?
News Article • 8/23/2018 • by Scott Fallon at North Jersey Record
TOMS RIVER — Gov. Phil Murphy will veto a much-criticized bill that would place a 5-cent fee on plastic grocery store bags, his office confirmed Thursday afternoon, leading some environmentalists and lawmakers to believe he will push for an outright ban.
Murphy called the bill's sponsors this week and told them he would veto the bill, which was rushed through the Legislature in June amid frenzied negotiations over a roughly $37 billion state budget.
More than a dozen municipalities, including Jersey City, Hoboken and Monmouth Beach, have passed local bans this year that will soon go into effect despite heavy lobbying efforts against a statewide ban.
Murphy's office confirmed that he will sign a veto and explain his position on Friday or Monday — the deadline to take action.
Murphy to veto fee on plastic bags
News Article • 8/23/2018 • by Danielle Muoio at Politico
Gov. Phil Murphy plans to veto a controversial bill that would have placed a 5-cent fee on plastic bags, according to a senior administration official.
Murphy plans to veto the bill in the coming days, per the source. The governor must act on the legislation by Monday, as both houses of the Legislature have said they intend to hold quorum calls that afternoon, triggering the deadline for a veto.
Governor Murphy Announces Plan to Veto Bag Fee Bill
Press Release • 8/23/2018
"Governor Murphy had the chance to reduce New Jersey's plastic pollution by closing loopholes and allowing the legislature to pass a stronger bill. Without any kind of law to reduce single-use bags, our state will continue to be overrun by dangerous pollution that threatens the health of New Jersey families and businesses. We look forward to working with the Legislature to combat this problem and make New Jersey an environmental leader once again," said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
5 things Murphy could do with plastic bag bill to truly reduce pollution | Opinion
News Article • 8/22/2018 • by Ed Potosnak at NJ.com
Earlier this summer, a harrowing story blanketed the nightly news. In Thailand, a whale washed up on shore, which isn't uncommon or noteworthy, but something insidious ended its life. The whale died from poisoning -- death by plastic.
There were a staggering 80 plastic bags and nearly 18 pounds of plastic debris found in the pilot whale body.
This isn't a singular event, but a telling symbol of the massive impact of plastics impose on the health of our environment.
It is estimated that over 100,000 marine mammals and turtles, over 1 million sea-birds and countless fish die every year from ingesting plastics, and more than 800 types of wildlife have been documented to be harmed by this pollution. Astoundingly, it is estimated that there are 500 times more microplastics in our ocean than the 100 billion stars in our galaxy.
The statistics on the pervasive nature of plastic pollution can go on.
Protecting the Water of 5 Million New Jerseyans: Lisa Plevin to Lead Highlands Council
News Article • 8/14/2018 • by Alex Ambrose at Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters would like to congratulate Lisa J. Plevin to her appointment as Executive Director for the New Jersey Highlands Council. Lisa takes over the role after Margaret Nordstrom, who is stepping down after joining the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council staff six years ago. The Highlands Council is a 15-member appointed body tasked with implementation of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2004. The Highlands Council is advised in its actions by its Executive Director, who serves as the chief administrative officer of the Council.
The Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act was passed to protect the Highlands from piecemeal development patterns that were consuming 5-square-miles of Highlands forests and wetlands each year. The Highlands Council’s primary goal is to uphold this Act and protect the Highlands, a physiographic region of New Jersey that includes 88 municipalities within 7 counties and provides drinking water for over 5 million residents of New Jersey. As I’ve seen under past state administrations, it’s hard not to lose sight of protecting water sources while wading through the polluted waters of partisan fighting - but I know Lisa can do it.
Plastic bags will soon be joining the dodo bird -- history
News Article • 8/14/2018 • by Joan Quigley at NJ.com
When you bring stuff home, what do you do with all the plastic bags it was packed in?
Do you cram them in the trash (probably into a bigger plastic bag) or do you stash them away for next time you need to carry something? Maybe keep them near the door to grab when you walk the dog and need to clean up after him. Or maybe you are one of those environmentally-conscious folks who saves them for the recycling box in the supermarket lobby.
No matter, really, because lawyers who draft bills and ordinances for government consider them all to be "single-use plastic bags."
Manufacturers disagree, of course, arguing they are 100 percent reusable and recyclable and claiming nine out of ten Americans reuse plastic bags at least once for everything from storage to waste disposal to packing materials.
LCV Action Fund Endorses Mikie Sherrill for Congress
Press Release • 8/7/2018
Washington, D.C. - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will support sound environmental policies, announced today its endorsement of Mikie Sherrill for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District.
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“Jay Webber has a record in the state assembly of voting with polluter interests and against the health of New Jersey families,” said New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Ed Potosnak. “Mikie Sherrill will stand up for clean air, clean water, and access to public lands for all New Jerseyans and we look forward to working with her in Congress.”
LCV ACTION FUND ENDORSES ANDY KIM FOR CONGRESS
Press Release • 8/3/2018
Washington, D.C. – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will support sound environmental policies, announced today its endorsement of Andy Kim for Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd District.
“LCV Action Fund is proud to endorse Andy Kim because he has dedicated his career to service to our country,” said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. “He knows that a healthy environment is critical for safe and healthy families and is committed to enacting policies to address climate change and protect clean air and water for all.”
“Andy Kim will be a critical ally in Congress as New Jersey leads the nation in building our clean energy economy,” said New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Ed Potosnak. “He will advocate for smart solutions to protect the Jersey shore from rising seas and fight back against threats to bring offshore drilling to our coast.”