Importing Out of State Trash Being Reduced But Federal Role is Dormant

By: Bill Carlin
Published On: 8/21/2008 8:56:09 PM

A story from The PilotOnline, SPSA will stop accepting other states' garbage contains good news that the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) will not renew contracts for taking trash from out of state sources.  
What caught my eye though was the passing mention of the involvement of the Federal government (interstate commerce puts the ball in their court right?).  The article's brief "plug" for legislative "action" was "The next big issue... is legislation pending in Congress that would allow states to better control how much garbage can be imported. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st"

This is where some basic, historical context and research would have been helpful.  

This issue was first "advanced" in Congress by Jo Ann Davis with H.R.274 which didn't gather a lot of cosponsors and tumbled into one committee and shortly rolled into a subcommittee never to be seen again.  A similar comment was provided by the press at that time that the matter was being legislated but failed to mention that it was stalled in committee.  You know, your basic rallying the public, call to action thing from the press... not happening.

It's good that progress is being made but the claim that help is on the way from Rob Wittman is a not-so-intant replay of the last episode.  

Wittman's bill is H.R.6166 , has been around since May 22 of this year, has less cosponsors and, you guessed it, is in committee but has stalled at a different point.  

Again, a skeptical, "I've heard the wind blow before" press would have been helpful to give this action by SPCA some momentum before they get hungry again and start cutting contracts.  I guess that would be too much like "advocacy journalism" which seems to have become perceived as a bad thing.  Back when I was coming up, it was called serving the common good.      


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