Other Issues In the News
Search this section • RSS Feed
|
Democrats Get Higher Grades on Environmental Scorecard But Scores Fall Below Past Averages
- Capitol Inside (new window)
|
9/17/2007 |
| Texas House Democrats scored more than 40 points higher on average than their Republican colleagues on a report card that an environmental watchdog group has issued for votes cast in the regular session earlier this year. But a majority of House Democrats did not rate as high on the Environment Texas biennial scorecard for 2007 as they had in previous years while a majority of Republicans had greener voting records this time around. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Chávez, Herrero, are among this session's top environmentalists
- Rio Grande Guardian (new window)
|
9/13/2007 |
| AUSTIN, September 13 - One senator and seven representatives voted to protect the environment 100 percent of the time in the 80th Legislature, according to Environment Texas' biennial legislative scorecard. Reps Norma Chávez, D-El Paso, and Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, both received 100 percent on the scorecard that tracks votes on a range of issues affecting the state's air, water, natural areas, and quality of life. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Electric discount fund gets attention
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram (new window)
|
9/12/2006 |
| Environment Texas advocate Luke Metzger said the fund transfer is similar to others authored by Texas lawmakers -- such as those relating to specialty license plates -- under which Texans pay fees for one purpose and discover later that the money was never allocated for that purpose. "Voters are rightly outraged," he said. | |
| more. . . | |
|
A few pieces of environmental legislation could define session
- Austin American-Statesman (new window)
|
5/22/2007 |
| With less than a week left in the legislative session, environmental groups are pinning their hopes for the session on a handful of measures. Chief among these are bills that deal with water conservation, energy efficiency and parks funding. This session could be among the most successful in recent years, said Luke Metzger, legislative director for the advocacy group Environment Texas. But the environmental tenor of the session depends on how just a few measures play out. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Chemical plants back in spotlight
- Houston Chronicle (new window)
|
4/20/2006 |
| WASHINGTON - More than four years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, almost everyone agrees on the need for federally enforced security standards at the nation's chemical plants. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Environmentalists push for anti-pollution legislation
- News 8 Austin (new window)
|
3/23/2007 |
| Texas environmentalists are once again pushing the Legislature to reduce toxic pollution. A new study by Environment Texas claims exposure to toxic pollution from industrial companies affects the health of people living in nearby communities. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Texas Number 1 in Cancer Causing Toxic Water and Air Pollution
- Fox 7 News (new window)
|
3/23/2007 |
| AUSTIN -- A report by Environment Texas found that Texas is number one in the nation for air and water releases of toxic pollution known to cause cancer. The report found that the largest source of pollution is the BP refinery in Texas City. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Texas can do better
- The Dallas Morning News (new window)
|
12/22/07 |
| One price of our successful export economy is that Texas is No. 1 in the country for toxic and cancerous manufacturing emissions, according to an analysis of federal data compiled by Environment Texas, an Austin-based group. It found that four Texas counties – Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Jefferson – rank among the nation's top five in carcinogenic emissions. | |
| more. . . | |
|
State of Nature: Interview with Luke Metzger, Environment Texas Director
- Lone Star Iconoclast (new window)
|
12/13/2006 |
| THE LONE STAR ICONOCLAST’s Nathan Diebenow recently spoke with Metzger about the environmental issues coming up in the next session of the Texas Legislature and the role of Congressional Democrats in framing green issues nationally. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Critical action needed to end overfishing
- Corpus Christi Caller-Times (new window)
|
10/29/2007 |
| AUSTIN -- As October draws to a close, we wind up another National Seafood month, and hopefully we've all had a chance to get our fill of our favorite fish or shellfish. Unfortunately, this celebration of seafood is bitter sweet. Every month or so seems to bring another sobering scientific article about the declining health of our oceans and disappearing stocks of fish. Individually these articles give us pause for thought; taken together they paint a startling picture of a vast ocean in slow decline if current practices continue unabated. | |
| more. . . | |
|
Administration proposes major changes in Endangered Species Act
- Austin American-Statesman (new window)
|
08/12/2008 |
| The Bush administration on Monday proposed a regulatory overhaul of the Endangered Species Act to allow federal agencies to decide for themselves whether protected species would be imperiled by agency projects, eliminating the independent scientific reviews that have been required for more than three decades. The changes will "let bureaucrats make decisions about species' future instead of scientists," said Luke Metzger, the head of Environment Texas. | |
| more. . . | |
|
The Greening of Michael McCaul
- Austin Chronicle (new window)
|
07/03/2008 |
| Environmental groups lauded the bill but remain unimpressed with McCaul. In this case, they say, the "win-win" aspect of HR 3021 explains McCaul's green clothing. "Generally with Michael McCaul, his voting record is pretty terrible," says Luke Metzger of Environment Texas, the local chapter of Environment America. "He talks a good game. He aligns himself with perhaps less controversial issues like green schools or issues where there isn't a powerful special interest standing in the way. Any time that that happens, he regularly sides with big polluters and against the environment." | |
| more. . . | |
|
McCaul's balancing act: practicing green politics
- Austin American-Statesman (new window)
|
05/26/2008 |
| McCaul also voted last year against requiring electric companies to eventually get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources, saying he heard from industry representatives that the standard was not realistic. But Luke Metzger, director of the advocacy group Environment Texas, said that vote showed that McCaul's votes do not match his rhetoric on environmental issues. "Time and time again, he sides with the polluters rather than the environment," Metzger said. | |
| more. . . | |
|
With their spurs dragging, Texans begin going green
- Brownsville Herald (new window)
|
04/28/2008 |
| Metzger hopes that taxpayers will be willing to foot the bill for the light rail, since broad changes, not just personal ones, are necessary to make meaningful reversals in the progression of global warming. "We know the polling shows that overwhelmingly people want cleaner air, water, and energy. The voice of the public often gets drowned out by the megaphone that big industry wields at the capital." | |
| more. . . | |
