EcoPolitics May 14th – May 21st, 2015: TxLege Updates, Watershed Protection Land in Jeopardy, Texas Sues Over Clean Power Plan

 
[State] With only two weeks left in the legislative session
now is a good time to look back and reflect on the impact that the session has had on Texas and the environment. This podcast from our friends at Shades of Green radio is a great way to do that. It features guests from the Texas Campaign for the EnvironmentTexas League of Conservation Voters, and Public Citizen Texas, three organizations with a strong working knowledge of the Texas Legislature. They run down the good, bad, and ugly of the session and let listeners know how they can get involved during these last few weeks of law-making. You can listen to the podcast here>>

 

A bill is making its way through the state legislature that would expand Hays County's tax base, at the expense of watershed protection.[State] Although time is running out, the legislative session is not 

over yet, and that means that there is still time for environmentally-damaging bills to make their way through the State Capitol building. If passed, two such bills, HB 3620 and 3621, could take away the City of Austin's ability to purchase water quality protection lands in the Hill Country. 

Since 1998, the City of Austin has purchased over 6,000 acres of water quality protection land in Travis and Hays Counties to ensure that the water flowing from Barton Springs into the Colorado River is clean. If passed, HB 3620 and 3621, proposed by State Representative Jason Isaac of Dripping Springs, would essentially strip the City of Austin of its ability to continue with these watershed protection efforts, all in the name of expanding the property tax base in Hays CountyLearn more about these two bills and their potential impact on Austin's water supply with this article from the University of Texas>>
 


Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the Obama administration over the Clean Power Plan.[State/Federal] Texas is suing the Obama administration

over its proposed Clean Power Plan, which seeks tocombat climate change bycutting carbon emissionsfrom power plants throughout the country. If the plan works as expected, it will reduce national carbon emissions from electricity generation by an estimated 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Tuesday his plans to go to court over the Clean Power Plan. "Texas has proven we can improve air quality without damaging our economy or Texans’ pocketbooks,” Paxton said. "I will fight this ill-conceived effort that threatens the livelihood and quality of life of all Texans.” Learn more>>

 

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