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On the Environment and Public Health,
Cook Strikes Out.
Printed in New Haven Advocate, 6-12 June '02
I appreciate the Advocate's coverage of my campaign against Sen. Cathy Cook in the 18th district. I would like, however, to clarify that the decision to run against Cook was made long before Governor Rowland helped her see the error of her ways, leading to her reversal of a previous vote to support a moratorium on the Cross-Sound Cable.
If Cook sees herself as an avid environmentalist, I must have much higher environmental standards than she. Last year Cook voted in favor of allowing Pollution Trading Credits for the Sooty Six (then the Filthy Five) power plants, so that CT's skies could remain filled with sulfur dioxides while some already cleaner-burning plant in another state could "compensate" for our astronomical asthma rates. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Cook inexplicably voted against a program aimed at reducing lead levels in children, and against an asthma assessment and monitoring bill for children. Even the moderate CT League of Conservation Voters scored these issues as negatives for Cook. There are three strikes not only against the environment, but against children's health.
Cook has also voted in favor of allowing for voluntary environmental audits of companies, against a study of toxic chemicals, and against a moratorium on new incinerators. Pro environment? I beg to differ.
However, as mentioned in the Advocate's article, my contentions with Cook's record go well beyond the environment. CT needs universal health care coverage; programs for sustainable development (read: citizen participation in regional planning and development); publicly financed elections; accountability (both for keeping jobs in the state, and for paying living wages) from companies receiving tax breaks or subsidies, or contracting with the state; and legislators who vote for their constituents, not for the Governor or special interests. We have none of these at present, nor will we until we elect corporate money-free legislators to the Assembly.
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