Through my contacts on the West Coast, I’ve gotten an alert for public input at a Washington State Environment and Energy Committee meeting. While I can’t participate (not a resident)I thought I’d pass it on for Washington State residents. Here’s the gist of the message.
In a last minute turn of events, yesterday’s hearing on the Washington Green Amendment (HJR4210) was postponed at the very end of the Environment and Energy Committee meeting.
It is looking like the hearing has been rescheduled for today (1/30) at 4 pm Pacific time.
We need all who are supporting the WA Green Amendment (HJR4210) to please take a moment to go back into the portal and vote “PRO”. And if you are able to testify please sign up to do so.
Or if testimony is not an option but you are able to submit a written comment, large or small, that would be of great value too.
Just a PRO vote, or PRO vote plus testimony or comment are all options at the link.
And please urge all in your circle of life to act now too.
It looks like the opposition is taking advantage of this last minute twist that seems to be restarting the Pro vs Con count.
Yesterday the PRO votes far outweighed the Cons by well over a hundred votes.
We need the committee to see the Pros still have it.
We need the Committee to see the power of our dedication and that we too are willing to sign back in and cast our vote.
Please go to this link and vote “PRO”: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House?selectedCommittee=31642&selectedMeeting=31866
Offer to do testimony or written comment as works best for you. But at least please cast your vote.
Maya
Maya K. van Rossum
* Founder of the Green Amendment For The Generations Movement
* Delaware Riverkeeper & Leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network
* Author of The Green Amendment, The People’s Fight For A Clean, Safe & Healthy Environment, 2d edition
* Author of The Green Amendment, Securing Our Right to a Healthy Environment.
Green Amendments For The Generations is a 1% For The Planet Environmental Partner
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Green Amendments For The Generations
925 Canal Street, Suite 3701, Bristol, PA 19007
Office: 267 274 2674 Mobile: 215 801 3043
Website: www.ForTheGenerations.org
Twitter: @MayaKvanRossum
What is a Green Amendment?
Green Amendments are self executing provisions added to the bill of rights section of a constitution that recognize and protect the rights of all people, including future generations, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.
Here’s a link to the text of the amendment.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:
Article I, section . . .. (1) The people of the state, including future generations, have the right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.
(2) The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of all the people, including generations yet to come.
(3) The rights stated in this section are inherent, inalienable, and indefeasible, are among those rights reserved to all the people, and are on par with other protected inalienable rights. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall equitably protect these rights for all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, geography, or wealth, and shall act with prudence, loyalty, impartiality, and equitable treatment of all beneficiaries in fulfilling its trustee obligations. The provisions of this section are self-executing.
Washington state is the first state in the nation to hold a Green Amendment hearing in 2024! Green amendments are also being proposed in other states.
The idea of a green amendment to a state constitution (as I understand it) is to place environmental concerns as a priority at the foundational level of state legal codes. This provides a framework for addressing those concerns in the legislature and as a means of addressing those concerns through the courts.
The American Bar Association has this analysis of two arguments often raised against these amendments by business and industry opponents. To summarize:
- The imaginary flood of litigation that would follow.
- The imaginary need for statutory or regulatory specifics to carry them out.
The ABA response:
ERAs certainly will create some additional litigation, uncertainty, and burden on business and industry. But they are being enacted precisely to address the uncertainty and burden that currently falls on the people due to risks from unregulated exposures. This is the burden shift underlying and motivating the recent enactment of ERAs. For this reason alone, ERAs would appear to be justified. The question remains, will this be sufficient to curtail business and industry efforts to avoid or neuter them moving forward?
If anyone has more information about this, please share in comments.