2010 Washington State Environmental Advocacy
Earth Ministry staff and supporters are advocating for the 2010 Environmental Priorities.
The Washington State legislative session got off to a great start on January 9, 2010, with over 250 people attending our 2010 Legislative Workshop at Seattle Pacific University. Throughout the day, attendees learned about three bills supported by the Environmental Priorities Coalition: the Safe Baby Bottle Act, which eliminates toxic chemicals from baby bottles and sippy cups, the Working for Clean Water bill, which addresses storm water pollution, and a priority to ensure our state budget maintains the core environmental protections we depend on to keep our communities healthy and safe. Earth Ministry/WAIPL staff led two training sessions on lobbying basics for over 75 people.
On January 26, over 475 citizens representing 40 legislative districts around the state joined us for environmental lobby day in Olympia. In the morning, Earth Ministry/WAIPL Executive Director LeeAnne Beres testified before the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee on the need to preserve the integrity of I-937 (the Clean Energy Initiative passed by WA voters in 2006) and in support of the Energy Efficiency Financing Act (SB 6656/HB 2853), while Program & Outreach Director Jessie Dye taught two workshops on effective lobbying. LeeAnne and Jessie teamed up in the afternoon to lead another session on how to testify in a committee hearing.
It was a pivotal day for the Safe Baby Bottle Act, which passed the House 95-1 the day before, and the Senate 36-9 a few days later. To learn more about the 2010 environmental priorities and how you can support them, please visit www.environmentalpriorities.org.
