Repressing the Ballot in New Hampshire

“If states are the laboratories of democracy, New Hampshire is serving
as a testing ground for the party’s Trump-era strategy on voting.A new Republican-backed New Hampshire state law known as SB 3 tightens the rules for people who register and vote on the same day—about 11 percent of all New Hampshire voters last November. These would-be voters can be hit with a $5,000 fine if they vote and can’t show documentary proof of where they live.”  More …

Florida Risks More Irma Devastation Because Gov. Rick Scott Lifted Wetland Protections

“The Republican governor prioritized development over ecological restoration of wetlands. Scott cut funding for the state’s water management districts in 2011, leading to staff reductions and less funding for ecosystem restoration projects. Around the same time, Scott signed the state legislature’s repeal of the state’s 1985 growth management law, leading to a spike in development. Scott would tell the Palm Beach Post in 2016 that the economic benefits from more building meant Florida was ‘on a roll.'”  More …

Under Trump, Regulation Slows to a Crawl

“Before he took office, Donald Trump promised to roll back the reach of the federal government, saying that he would end the “regulation industry” on the first day of his presidency. The effect has been immediate and dramatic: According to data compiled by POLITICO, significant federal regulation since Trump’s inauguration has slowed to an almost total halt.”  More …

Early Shut-Down, Upgrades Could Have Prevented Millions of Pounds of Pollution During Hurricane Harvey

“About 40 petrochemical companies released more than 5.5 million pounds of hazardous chemicals as a result of the hurricane.The excess emissions were mainly a result of facilities shutting down and restarting their operations in preparation for the hurricane and accidents such as the fire at the Arkema plant and a floating roof covering a tank caving in due to heavy rains at an ExxonMobil refinery. In many cases, the pollution releases were preventable, according to environmental experts who reviewed the Observer’s analysis.”    More …