Environmental Politics

Environmental Politics

OutlineENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION: GovernmentalHow are regulations passed and enacted?

SOLUTIONS:

Approaches to solving the problem

MONEY, POLITICS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

Votes for sale?

ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES AND NPO’S

GovernmentalEnvironmental Groups

The need for regulation

THE UNDERLYING ECONOMICS: Companies benefit financially by polluting. Companies profit by using federal lands.

Protecting Common Resources

THE PROBLEM: Pollution destroys common resourcesWater, air, soil, forestsUsed resources are not replaced

THE QUESTION: Who protects common resources from ruin at the hands of industry?

Protecting Common Resources THE ANSWER:

THE GOVERNMENT!

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION: Federal, state, and local governmentsEnact and enforce regulations on development, water pollution, air pollution, etc.

Creating regulations

While this occurs at all levels of government, we are goingto focus on the federal government.

Legislation proposed

Legislation debatedand voted on

If passed, environmentalagency makes regulations

Regulations implemented and enforced

Successful regulation

Environmental Legislation

HOW ARE THESE

REGULATIONS MADE?

FEDERAL, STATE, AND

LOCALGOVERNMENTS

Environmental Legislation

HOW IS FEDERAL LEGISLATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL

REGULATIONS ENACTED?

LET'S TAKE A LOOK...

To simplify things, let's look only at federal laws

STEP 1: Bill introduced into committee in CongressCommittee reviews bill; can die there

Federal Legislation

STEP 2: Passes committee, on to debate and vote in House of Representatives

STEP 3: If passed, procedure repeats in Senate

STEP 4: If passed, goes up for presidential review

STEP 5: If signed into law, executive agency overseesenvironmental legislation

Federal Legislation

STEP 6: Conflict between industry and regulators may lead to lawsuit; if so, goes to judicial branch

STEP 7: If declared unconstitutional, legislation is nullified

STEP 8: If nullified, process starts all over or is forgotten

Governmental Agencies

If the legislation gets passed, there needs to be governmentaloversight of the regulations passed. This falls to the executivebranch of government. The major environmental agencies are:

•EPA - primary responsibility for protecting environmental quality•Dept. of Interior - oversees federal natural resources•Dept. of Agriculture - oversees farming and ranching

Other agencies have minor responsibilities that impact natural and artificial environments.

•Health and Human Services - FDA oversees food and drugs, CDCoversees diseases in humans, animals, and plants•Dept. of Labor - OSHA regulates working environments

EPA

•Created in 1970 to combat the onslaught of pollution entering water, air, and land•Enforces regulations under existing laws•Oversees environmental research to set standards that must be followed•When national standards are not met, can issue sanctions, fines,etc.•Very political office. A new presidential administration can completely change the EPA attitude toward enforcement

Website - http://www.epa.gov/

Department of Interior

•Oversees natural resources on federal lands•Contains the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management,Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement•NPS and FWS control national parks, monuments, and wildliferefuges; also responsible for administering the Endangered SpeciesAct•BLM and BOEMRE oversee the use of federal lands for companiesand individuals that use resources (oil and gas leases, grazing rights)•Bureau of Reclamation responsible for federal dams built on waterways

Website - http://www.doi.gov/bureaus.html

Department of Agriculture

Website - http://www.usda.gov/

•Oversees the production of food in the U.S. and createsstandards for nutrition•Responsible for food safety and security•Houses the U.S. Forest Service, which oversees national forests and grasslands

Environmental Organizations

•Put in role of being watchdog over federal agencies•Most larger organizations have lobbyist that try to createand change legislation to be more environmentally friendly•Can insure that regulations are enforced by suing federal agencies that do not follow regulations•Span a wide range of interests and level of participation for members

Mainstream Active Groups

http://www.iwla.org/http://www.audubon.org/http://www.sierraclub.org/

•Lobby the local, state, and federal government on environmental issues•Membership is active, with local chapters that meet and haveoutings•Volunteerism keeps organization going; few paid positions•Inform membership of issues with publications; can mobilizemembership for lobbying and protesting efforts

Mainstream Passive Groups

nature.orgwww.wwf.orgwww.environmentaldefense.org

•Mostly lobby and operate on a federal/national level•Membership dues go to hiring personnel; volunteerism isnot relied upon•Rarely have local chapters to help with local issues •Contact with membership is almost solely through publicationsand e-mail

Radical Groups

www.earthliberationfront.comwww.earthfirst.org www.greenpeace.org

•Members are called to action; very few passive members•Action is often of a radical nature (spiking trees, burning development, tree sitting, etc.)•Very little, if any, lobbying•Some are extremely secretive about membership

Environmental Legislation

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ARE PASSED BY

POLITICIANS

TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS,

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND POLITICS

Politicians

POLITICIANS: Officials elected to represent constituents

Federal Politicians

PRESIDENT: Only one. Elected by national voteRepresents entire country (4 yrs.)

SENATOR: Two elected from every state Represent their state (6 yrs.)

CONGRESSMAN: Multiple (usually) elected from each stateRepresent congressional districts (2 yrs.)

Federal Politicians

GOAL:

HOW DO THEY GET REELECTED? (1.) Get benefits for home district

Federal funding for local projects Protect local industries

GETTING REELECTED

EXAMPLES: West VA politicians oppose restrictions on coalMichigan politicians oppose auto regulationsGeorgia legislators oppose military cuts;support funding for new planes at Lockheed

Federal Politicians

GOAL: GETTING REELECTED

(2.) Short-term benefits to constituents Surplus = pay down debt or tax breaks? "What have you done for me lately?"

“Members of both major parties realize that global warming is a long-term problem that carries little short-term political risk. By the time their inaction causes big trouble - perhaps decades from now - they’ll be long gone. But if they foul up the economy, they’ll be sent home next Election Day.”

Time Magazine, April 9, 2001

Federal Politicians

GOAL: GETTING REELECTED (3.) Raise tons of money for reelection campaign

No term limits on senators/congressman Campaigns every 2 (Cong.) or 6 (Sen.) yrs

CAMPAIGNS AREN’T CHEAP…

WINNING CAMPAIGN COSTS (2006): Senator (6 yrs): $9,600,000

Congressman (2 yrs): $1,250,000

What’s the money for?

CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES:TV ads, radio ads, workers, web sites, bumper stickers, billboards, traveling expenses, cool lookin' buttons...

ANSWER:

THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST CAMPAIGN MONEY WINS 90% OF THE TIME

QUESTION: Does having more campaign money help?

Money and politics:

Campaign finance

Campaign Finance

POLITICIAN'S GOAL:

GET REELECTED

ELECTION SUCCESS:

CANDIDIATE WITH THE MOST MONEY WINS

MEANS TO YOUR GOAL:

RAISE LOTS OF MONEY

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS: Individuals, corporations, and lobbyists donate money to politicians for their campaigns

Where do they get the money?

LOBBYISTS: Represent special interest groupsIndustries (e.g., oil), groups (retired people)

SIDE BENEFITS: Politicians get gifts and trips from lobbyistsTrips passed off as “informational”

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org) Year 2010 data is up to reporting by July 2010

Oil and Gas Industry

Top contributors (2009)

Exxon Mobil $27,430,000

Chevron Corp $20,815,000

ConocoPhillips $18,070,000

BP $15,990,000

Electric Utilities

Top Contributors (2009)

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org) Year 2010 data is up to reporting by July 2010

Southern Co $13,450,000

Edison Electric Institute $10,500,000

American Electric Power $7,297,000

PG&E Corp $6,280,000

Duke Energy $5,880,000

Alternative Energy

Top Contributors (2009)

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org) Year 2010 data is up to reporting by July 2010

American Wind Energy Assoc. $4,990,000

Solar Energy Industries Assn $1,643,000

Clean Energy Group $1,624,000

Salt River Project $1,170,000

Votes For Sale?

POLITICIANS: Readily accept money and benefits from lobbyists, but claim it doesn’t affect their voting

HUMAN NATURE: Are you going to give money to someone if you expect to get nothing in return?

How It Works

LOBBYISTS: Want the most “bang” for their buckMoney gives them incredible access to politiciansUsually give more money to committee chairsSometimes write the legislation for the Congressman

Sometimes become an appointed part of the government in one of the executive agencies

Ways Money Can Kill Legislation

WHILE BILL IS IN COMMITTEE: Chairperson delays or refuses to call vote on billBill never makes it open House/Senate for vote

WHILE BILL IS UP FOR VOTE : Party leaders persuade junior members to vote a certain way on an issue

Congressmen vote lobbyists’ way

AFTER BILL IS PASSED: President vetoes legislation

“Riders” DEFINITION: Congressman adds clause that “rides” on another piece of legislation (often totally unrelated)

HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE: Bill in Congress to give orphans in orphanages a present on their birthday

Congressman from GA adds rider to get moneyto widen Barrett Parkway

Congressman from OH adds rider to let localpower company exceed set pollution limits

“Riders”PROBLEM: Politicians must vote on entire bill, including riders, with “Yes” or “No”

Can any sensible politician vote against the “orphan happiness” bill due to the riders in it?

RELATED ITEMS: Line item veto - ruled unconstitutional

Check the next disaster aid bill that gets passed

Money, Politics, and the Environ.

INDUSTRY: Wants to keep costs down; cheaper to polluteCheaper to kill regulations than not polluteLobby politicians to weaken environ. reg.’s

(1.) Kill bills in committee(2.) Elicit votes against bills(3.) Add pro-industry riders

Industry lobbyists have lots of money, can give generously to politicians

Environmental lobbyists have no money, only petitions, letters from citizens

Summarizing

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION: Protects common resources from pollutionRegulations passed by politicians

POLITICIANS AND MONEY: Industry lobbyists provide gifts/donationsPoliticians reciprocate with favorable legislation

Donations fund costly reelection campaignsReelection = seniority = more lobbyist benefits

So how are environmental

laws ever passed?

Passing Environmental Laws

PUBLIC OPINION: Public support for environmental regulations usually high

PUBLIC OPINION VS. INDUSTRY MONEY: Strong public opinion wins every time

But people only get active after catastrophic environmental event or seminal book/film

Love Canal in New York, Silent Spring by Carson

Passing Environmental Laws

PROBLEM: Public largely apathetic about politicsWorking longer, no time for such things

PUBLIC OPINION VS. INDUSTRY MONEY: Money wins every time when public isn’t involvedPublic rarely involved, so money usually wins

CLASSIC ENVIRONMENTALIST APPROACH: “Educate the public”, pressure politicians

Some successes, but many failures

Is it public apathy on issues?

FairlySerious

32%

VerySerious

43%

Not VerySerious

14%

Not at all serious 7%

Is global warming a very serious problem, a fairly serious problem, not a very serious

problem, or not at all serious?

Source: Time Magazine (April, 2001)

Public support for action?

Should President Bush develop a plan

to reduce the emission of gases

that may contribute to global warming?

Source: Time Magazine (April, 2001)

No26%

Yes67%

No23%

Yes64%

Are emissions of gases like

carbon dioxide causing global temperature increases?

Source: Time Magazine (April, 2001)

A lack of understanding?

Empathy for Industry?

No26%

Yes69%

When it comes to protecting the

environment, does the government

give in to business interests too often?

Source: Time Magazine (April, 2001)

Personal sacrifice?

Would you be willing to pay and extra 25 cents per gallon of

gas to reduce pollution and global

warming?

Source: Time Magazine (April, 2001)

No49%

Yes48%

Would you personally be willing to support tough government actions to help reduce global warming even if each of the following happened as a result?

No54%

Yes38%No

49%Yes47%

No39% Yes

54%

Personal sacrifice?

Source: Time Magazine (April, 2001)

Your utility bills went up

A mild increase in inflation

Unemployment increased

Talking the talk…

We’ve got to stop global warming!

But don’t touch my wallet to

do it!

People are quick to call for action, but unwilling to make

necessary sacrifices

Campaign Finance Resources

Federal Election Commissionhttp://www.fec.gov

The Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org

Reporter’s Reference Center on Campaign Finance Reformhttp://www.benton.org/neustadt/reporters/