Monday, July 20, 2009

Governor Markell Will Veto HB 201

Governor Jack Markell has announced that he will veto HB 201, the Un-Bottle Bill. While noting that the current program "is not very effective," the Governor points out that HB 201 offers no alternative and "does not move us forward." He closes his veto message with this challenge to all stakeholders, including the environmental community:
To that end, I have directed Secretary Collin O'Mara of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Alan Levin, the Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, to work with Representative Viola, other members of the General Assembly, beverage distributors and retailers, and the environmental community to comprehensively examine how beverage bottles are distributed, sold, returned and recycled. My hope is that we can propose a workable solution when the General Assembly returns in January, 2010.
I and a small group of recycling advocates spoke with the Governor last Friday to make the case for a veto. It seems he listened to what we had to say.
The veto gives recycling advocates leverage with legislators who want to get rid of the current program. This may be our best opportunity yet to create a comprehensive statewide zero waste policy in Delaware.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Veto announcement: http://governor.delaware.gov/news/2009/07july/20090720-veto.shtml

Nice work.

3:55 PM, July 20, 2009  
Blogger Tom Noyes said...

Thanks for the link.

3:58 PM, July 20, 2009  
Blogger Nancy Willing said...

Tommywonk, someone on the Governor's staff mis-spelled Colin's name, FYI.

5:54 PM, July 20, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, its the News Journal that gets his name wrong. Its Collin O'Mara.

8:31 PM, July 20, 2009  
Blogger Nancy Willing said...

Oops, so it appears on his email. I will have to go and fix all of my stuff.

12:27 PM, July 21, 2009  

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