Tim Kaine continues to impress me on a variety of fronts. In 2005, it was how he conducted himself as he ran for Governor. In 2006, it's been his actions on protections for gays and lesbians and his strong stand on the extremely difficult issue of transportation. Now, as Earth Day approaches (tomorrow), it's the environment. The big news is that Gov. Kaine yesterday, speaking at the Virginia Military Academy (VMI), announced "his primary natural resource objective is to preserve a record 400,000 acres of open space throughout Virginia, meeting and exceeding the Commonwealth+óGé¼Gäós obligation under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement."
Most excellent! Kaine continued:
This is not just the right thing to do. We will do it because if we don+óGé¼Gäót, the opportunity to do it will not be there for future governors and future Virginians. The result will be more conservation easements; more public lands, such as state parks, wildlife management areas, state forests and natural-area preserves, protecting opportunities to hunt and fish and greater local preservation efforts that will help family farmers stay on their land instead of selling out to development.
In addition, in a reference that certainly warms my Teddy Roosevelt Progressive heart, Kaine "referred to the call of President Theodore Roosevelt in Jamestown 100 years ago to use foresight in creating natural resource policies."
[more after the flip]
Did I mention that I love this guy and am so glad I helped to "raise Kaine" last year? Well, ok, I just did. Anyway, thanks Governor Kaine, for being such a great environmentalist - and not just on Earth Day!
In other environmental news, the Virginia League of Consevation Voters (LCV) reports that:
Both the House and the Senate unanimously passed the Governor's important amendments to Del. Reid+óGé¼Gäós and Sen. Puckett+óGé¼Gäós bills [HB 1055/SB 651] which have brought us closer to our goal of reducing toxic mercury at the local level instead of relying on flawed federal rules. Gov. Kaine's amendments require the Mirant Corporation to actually reduce mercury emissions locally instead of purchasing pollution credits from anywhere across the country, even as far away as Alaska or Hawaii. This is one first step towards our goal of reducing mercury emissions by 90% in Virginia.
Great news. LCV also reports that:
The Governor significantly amended SB262 [The Virginia Energy Plan], fixing many of the problems with the bill. Gov. Kaine removed troubling language regarding the siting of nuclear power plants, and made many improvements to the legislation by including tax deductions for energy efficient appliances, and to better site wind energy facilities. We were most thankful that Gov. Kaine removed much of the offshore drilling language, leaving only the possibility for a federally funded study to look for natural gas 50 miles off the coast.
Also great news. Now, here's a question for anyone who supported Jerry Kilgore last year, or anyone who supports George Allen this year: would any of this positive movement on the environment be happening under the type of Republican "leadership" we see from people like that? Seriously, be honest. Right, I thought not. That's exactly why, if you care about environmental or energy issues, you should be voting for Democrats like Tim Kaine...and Andy Hurst, and Judy Feder, and Shawn O'Donnell, and Al Weed, and Martin Dudziak, and Phil Kellam, and - of course - Jim Webb. Thank you, and Happy Earth Day!
There is a movement afoot in the VA Gen. Assembly to repeal the state's current tax credits for conservation easements. I hope Kaine plans to stop this in its tracks, and promote easements as a way to preserve the family farm AND conserve beautiful open space.
My family recently put an easement on our farm on the Potomac River, and he GAINED money--not lost money--on the deal. Thanks to the tax credit (VA and Colorado are the only states to offer it) we made out like bandits and preserved our farm for future generations.