DENVER—With
a stroke of his pen, Governor Owens vetoed the most important clean air
legislation passed by Colorado’s legislature in nearly 15 years.
HB-1309,
supported by a broad coalition of health officials and advocates, local
governments, faith leaders, sportsmen, and conservationists, would have
given Colorado the right to reject federal rollbacks that will loosen
air quality laws for Colorado’s industrial polluters. Over the last
week more than 1200 citizens from across Colorado contacted Owens’
office asking him to give Colorado the right to keep our skies clear.
To
many, HB-1309 was simply about protecting public health. “It’s
disappointing that the Governor won’t allow Colorado the flexibility to
protect the health of its citizens, said Curt Huber, CEO of American
Lung of Colorado. “This measure would not even have mandated any
specific action—it would have just given Colorado the ability to
maintain our clean air standards.”
Colorado’s
push for more local control over minimum air quality standards comes in
the aftermath of federal rollbacks that would weaken Colorado’s air
quality laws. Recent rollbacks include proposals that would allow dirty
industries and power plants to emit more air pollution, including soot
and smog forming pollutants into Colorado’s air and resident’s lungs.
“Today
Gov. Owens chose to not protect Colorado’s skies,” said Isaac Silverman
of Environment Colorado. “Guaranteeing Colorado polluters the weakest
air pollution rules permitted by federal law the Monday after Earth Day
is like celebrating Veterans Day by cutting military pensions.”
And
many local governments were looking forward to flexibility in the face
of federal rule changes. “HB 1309 was really about common sense.
Ultimately, it would have leveled the playing field, holding the
government accountable to the citizens of Colorado” said Gregg Thomas,
Environmental Assessment and Policy supervisor for the City and County
of Denver.
HB-1309
enjoyed strong support from a broad coalition. Last Monday
approximately 40 Coloradoans gathered at the capitol alongside public
health advocates, faith leaders, local governments and
conservationists, to call on Governor Owens to sign HB-1309. Over 1,200
people from all over Colorado contacted Gov. Owens asking him to sign
the bill.
