Dean: Bush's Environmental Record a Failure

Dean: Bush's Environmental Record a Failure
Governor Howard Dean today commented on President Bush's August environmental tour:

"Whether landing a fighter jet on the USS Lincoln or motorcading to the Santa Monica mountains, George Bush's photos ops cannot substitute for real achievements or cover up real failures. When it comes to the environment, no amount of glitz can disguise the Administration's dismal record of championing corporate interests over sound science and environmental stewardship.

"Bush's National Parks Legacy Project is a blatant attempt to whitewash his dismal conservation record. While the president promised to eliminate the backlog of repairs in National Parks, in his first two years he has addressed less than a tenth of the necessary maintenance. Meanwhile, the White House is working to dismantle the core of the National Park Service by privatizing the workers who serve in our most precious national treasures, from Independence Hall to the Cascades.

"Earlier this week, the President flaunted his forest fire reduction plan--the misnamed the Healthy Forests Initiative--forgetting to mention that his plan guts environmental laws, bypasses judicial review, provides a windfall for the commercial logging industry, invites the harvesting of healthy trees, and does nothing to protect the families most at risk from forest fires.

"Americans deserve a president whose actions match his words and who won't hand over management of our public lands to private corporate interests."

Posted by Mathew Gross at 10:50 AM
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http://blogforamerica.com/

I have no been impressed, pleased or confident in Dean’s environmental, energy, conservation, etc…program (such as it is).

But this statement cuts hard, hits straight and takes Dean’s no-holds barred kick ass attack (which is attractive) to an issue I do not trust him on.

If this is Dean talking (and not merely one of his supporters or issue advisors—whom I all respect a great deal) and he really has an innovative environmental agenda and would NOT kowtow to corporate interests then I can certainly move him up the list.

I want to know where he stands on: Trade and how it is used to circumvent most major American laws (environmental, labor, advertising, product safety, etc). I also want to know more about what he thinks of factory farms, and the scourge they are (although for a low cost). What would a President Dean do about energy? Does he have the balls to take on Detroit, work for increase fuel standards (at least moving small trucks and SUVs to another category leaving larger trucks exempt for example)? Will he work for true renewable energy sources bucking the most wealthiest of contributors for the sake of that without power, money or voice?

If Dean can clear up the previous paragraph…if he gets the nomination of the Democratic Party…I’m on board.

The Great American Restoration- Preserving the Family Farm

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=20267

I did like a lot of that speech.

Some things I like Dean said:

“the Bush administration has been delaying mandatory country-of-origin labeling called for in the farm bill. America consumers should have the ability to buy American if they want to and farmers should be able to enjoy the premiums that consumers are willing to pay for quality American products. “

“We need a fair trade policy that keeps the needs of our farmers in mind; a trade policy that expands their access to foreign markets but doesn't expose them to unfair foreign competition that will push domestic prices down even further. What we don't need is an Administration that sees agricultural issues as nothing more than a bargaining chip.” – This is a bit ambiguous. Dean doesn’t touch on the cost of “production” of imported agriculture.

“That's why I worked to find innovative solutions for our dairy farmers in the form of a regional program to provide direct counter-cyclical payments from processors to producers. I know there are people here in Iowa and elsewhere in the Midwest who question the program's relevance to farming in this part of the country. But our farmers were facing the same problems many of Iowa's farmers face they couldn't get a fair price for their product from processors. Our farmers were going under while processors and retailers rolled up huge profits. Our program made sure that the money consumers paid went directly to farmers and that our farmers' hard work wouldn't go unrewarded. “


Dean goes on to talk about the concentration of agriculture.

”Four firms control 80% of the soybean crushing market.


Four firms control 81% of the beef packing market.”

BY ECONOMIC Definition this above is a monopoly


In reading Dean’s speech it is obvious he has an astute understanding of the farm issues. There are other things I didn’t see so much of (colonizing South America’s farm lands for beef production for RE-import into the US is a horrible thing for instance), but overall I like what he said.

If Dean wins I will vote for him. For a while with all the Kerry-Dean infighting going on I swore off Dean, but for the betterment of this country Dean is a clear choice.

Maybe I will have to re-evaluate Dean! (I still don’t like his death penalty stand, but I didn’t like Kerry’s vote on pre-emptive authorization)

Does Dean's record match his rhetoric? Sure if you listen to any candidate's speeches or read what they have on their website it all sounds wonderful, but it's what they do once they are in power that matters.

The only stuff I have found on-line is from Vermonters for a Clean Environment and it does not paint a very rosy picture. But I'd like to give Dean the benefit of the doubt, so Dean supporters, is there another, positive side to Dean's environmental record as governor? I'd like to hear about it.

papers for 10 years? If he has nothing to hide, he should open them then there would be no questions about his record matching his rhetoric.

6 years. Dean asked for 20 and got 10.

All of Dean's official statements are open to the public.

The fact that most Vermonters support their ex-governor and that the effects of his governorship had major positive results on the health of Vermont's commonwealth speaks louder volumes than any paper Dean's opponents would like to take out of context. And I think that it is this "taking words out of context" that is the main reason for Dean wanting the 10 years.

Anyone know? :shrug:

their records are for public view.

So I can call John Kerry's office and they'll send me copies of his personal documents to look over? Cool.

I want to see Dean's PUBLIC documents - you know the ones he sealed.

(Kinzel) When Dean left office he took the unusual step of sealing some key documents for a 10-year period. Past governors have used their right of executive privilege to seal their key papers for only six years. Markowitz says there's a clear distinction between the public papers and the private papers that Dean has chosen to seal for a decade.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/vpr/news/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=527673

Get your smears straight.

(Kinzel) When Dean left office he took the unusual step of sealing some key documents for a 10-year period. Past governors have used their right of executive privilege to seal their key papers for only six years. Markowitz says there's a clear distinction between the public papers and the private papers that Dean has chosen to seal for a decade.

(Markowitz) "Those are very often the policy documents, the documents that show the rationale and the thought process that went behind adopting policies. The records that are currently open, though, are the governor's correspondence, records of actions taken on a variety of things, actually. But most notably it's the correspondence of the governor. So for example there's a big box of correspondence on the civil unions law."

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/vpr/news/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=527673

So he is saying that "the policy documents, the documents that show the rationale and the thought process that went behind adopting policies" are sealed. And that the correspondence is unsealed.

So when Kinzel says "Markowitz says there's a clear distinction between the public papers and the private papers that Dean has chosen to seal for a decade." it doesn't make much sense to me. The 'correspondence' is private and unsealed and the 'policy documents' are public and sealed? Doesn't that seem kinda backwards?

I must be misunderstanding something...

I havnt been posting much, as I am now involved in assisting in reconstructing Dean record as governor in order for other candidates to be able to accurately Dean with his record and things he has done, decisions he has made, and the special interst groups that Dean favored with though his government influence.

Among the largest winnners were the large health insurance providers whi did nothing but the claims processing and other similar administration. The contacted administators ate up such large sums of the sttes TOTAL budget that more than it was raeching the point that health service and accompanying administrative costs used more of the states budget than all of th other departments together, yet no significant increase in the number ofpeople covered by insurance occured while Dean was governor, and no increase in quality of service occurred.

I will have to travel to Vermont soon in order to gain direct access to the public records, as most of them have not even been cataloged or classified by wither clerical staff or librarians.

Will keep all of those who do not appreciate the doctor as much as some of our good Deans supporting friends on this site do, as I get on wit the work.

Typical smear. Raise a false issue instead of answering the valid and polite questions that have been asked. *sigh*

what about his support and expediting of permits for large agro businesses and other polluting businesses? Did he have zoning laws altered that allowed an enormous area of pristine farm lands around an area called Lake Arrowhead to benefit a large manufacturing company?

WELL?

Land Acquisition Over 470,000 acres of land conserved through Dean’s leadership as Governor nearly 8% of Vermont. Properties acquired and added to the state’s holdings include important natural areas, significant waterfalls and gorges, critical wildlife habitat areas, key inholdings, access areas, recreation lands and important forestland parcels.
Storm Water Management Governor Dean pioneered a statewide program establishing permit authority over storm water runoff. Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources partnered with local authorities in towns and cities to give storm water controls teeth.
Tough Emissions Standards Governor Dean ordered emission controls Vermont to be more stringent than those required by the Kyoto Protocols. He has worked consistently and closely with the New England states to sue the Midwestern states to reduce coal emissions.
Lead Role on Mercury As a physician, Governor Dean took a lead role in VT and at the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers on eliminating mercury within the region within 10 years.
Thoughtful Development Governor Dean provided real incentives to keep development in downtowns and kept Vermont’s scenic vistas pristine by discouraging development near highway interchanges. Established a Development Cabinet and advanced the use of permitting as a tool to promote sustainable growth.

Do you have any source reference for this?

Please don't point me to Dean's website - I mean independent sources - newspaper articles, magazine articles, environmental groups websites, other independent websites, that kind of thing.

Damn lot of stuff to wade through...I'll be gone for the week so...
talk to ya'll later

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/specialnews/dean/12.htm
this is from 2001 and states 300,000 acres

http://www.bop2004.org/dtaweb/bop2004/default.aspx?SECTION=CANDIDATE&CID=8

" During Dean's tenure, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board sealed deals protecting nearly 300,000 acres 74,152 acres of agricultural lands on 224 farms and 220,652 acres of open fields and forest. The biggest prize is 130,000 acres acres in the Northeast Kingdom acquired from Champion International Corp.

"Our kids and our kids' kids will reap the benefits,'' observed Attorney General William Sorrell, longtime Dean friend and former member of his Cabinet. ''The governor has worked very hard and successfully to have generations after us enjoy some of what makes this place special today.''

Elizabeth Courtney, executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, applauds the land purchases, but adds, ''Gov. Dean has put too many of his environmental eggs in the land-acquisition basket.''

"What we have lacked over the last 10 years is leadership on the tough issues of growth management,'' Courtney said. ''There has not been an overarching vision to resolve the differences on economic and environmental issues.''

House Speaker Walter Freed, R-Dorset, criticizes Dean for allowing environmental policies to restrict business growth. ''Many people are frustrated by Howard Dean's environmental policies.''"

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/specialnews/dean/12.htm

Well, at least he has people attacking from both sides, that's a good sign...



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http://www.bop2004.org/dtaweb/bop2004/default.aspx?SECTION=CANDIDATE&CID=8

this link isn't working

don't know what happened to that link...it worked an hour ago...
:shrug: I don't see any obvious error in it.

I'm talking about his sealed records ! Did he spend eight million dollar building a bridge for a Canadian company called Hardy Injection Molding?

You don't like Dean. I highly doubt anything at this point would turn you on to him, given your obvious dislike for the man. You've said many times you don't like that his records are sealed. If he released them, you'd still dislike Dean. You made your point. Now, go promote your guy.

I'm not thrilled that he sealed them for 4 more years than normal, but heck, I've looked at how well his state is doing (especially compared to my retarded state of Nevada) and that speaks volumes for me. It's hardly an issue worth deciding loyalty over.

my husband is in Nevada BTW. His state is smaller than Las Vegas!!!

Dean is STILL my number two choice which is why I get frustrated sometimes when I am attacked for asking questions about his record.

his hat in - I would really like to see him as Kerry's VP.

...a small state can be ruined by a bad leader as easily as improved by a good one. Dean's record for his small state is one I wish we had in Vegas.

Canadian Plastic bottling factory called Husky Injection Molding.

Named for English poet John Milton, author of the epic poems Paradise Lost and Paradise Regaind, the town received word June 14, 1997, that Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. intended to build a campus-style manufacturing operation on a 700-acre site along the east shore of Lake Arrowhead. "Husky is a perfect fit for Vermont," said Gov. Howard Dean at the time of the announcement, adding the company "combines world-class technology with a respect for the environment and the very best in comprehensive, health-oriented employee benefits." For Husky, Miltons selling points were Vermont's much-touted quality of life, and easy access to significant port cities like Boston, Montreal and New York.

The Bolton, Ontario-based company was founded by Robert Schad in 1953 to manufacture a snowmobile called the Huskymobile. When that product failed to catch on, the company switched gears and began producing plastic molds five years later. It moved into injection molding by 1961 and has continued to manufacture heavy equipment used in manufacturing plastic products. The company had more than $760 million (American) in sales for fiscal 1998.

Husky's first operation in Milton consists of a state-of-the-art hot runner facility opened in the summer of 98. The company might eventually employ up to 2,000 people, making it one of the largest private employers in the state.

The trickle-down of Husky's move into Vermont has already started: Webco, a subcontractor that designs and installs internal cranes for Husky, established a base in the Catamount Industrial Park, a 174-acre facility built in 1983 off Exit 17 of Interstate 89. Many economic development experts expect more subcontractors to follow in coming years.

http://www.vermontguides.com/1999/8-aug/aug3.htm


Re: Greater Burlington Industrial Corp. and Husky Injection Molding Systems, Inc.,
#4C1007-1-EB, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, & Order (June 25, 1998)

VERMONT ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD
10 V.S.A.  6001-6092

Re: Greater Burlington Industrial Corp. and
Husky Injection Molding Systems, Inc.,
Land Use Permit Application #4C1007-1-EB
Docket #677

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND ORDER

This appeal concerns review of a master plan for a project known
as the Husky Campus, a 4 million square foot industrial project to
be constructed over a period of 20 years on approximately 700
acres in Milton, Vermont ("Project"). As explained in more detail
below, the Vermont Environmental Board ("Board") concludes that
the Project complies with 10 V.S.A.  6086(a)(8) ("Criterion 8").

I. PROCEDURAL SUMMARY

On March 20, 1997, Greater Burlington Industrial Corp. ("GBIC"),
Husky Injection Molding Systems, Inc. ("Husky"), Joseph and
Barbara Rowe and the Joseph P. and Barbara L. Revocable Trust,
Sherrol Ward and Albee Westover, John A. Russel, Jane Fitzgerald,
Betty McLanel, Nancy Bullis, Robert and Clarice Lamphere, and
Erwin and Lee H. Devino (collectively the "Applicants") filed an
application with the District #4 Environmental Commission
("District Commission") seeking partial approval of the Project
under 10 V.S.A.  6001-6092 ("Act 250").

On May 29, 1997, the District Commission issued Partial Findings
of Fact and Conclusions of Law regarding the Application ("May
1997 Decision"). On June 19, 1997, in response to a Motion to
Alter filed by GBIC and Husky, the District Commission issued
Supplemental Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law ("June 1997
Decision"). The May 1997 Decision and the June 1997 Decision are
referred to collectively herein as the "Partial Decision."

On June 27, 1997, the Town of Milton and the Milton Planning
Commission (collectively "Milton") filed a Notice of Appeal with
the Board from the Partial Decision ("Milton's First Appeal"),
contending that the District Commission erred in its
interpretation and application of 10 V.S.A.  6086(a)(8)
(aesthetics) ("Criterion 8").

http://www.state.vt.us/envboard/decisions/eb/1998/4c1007-1-dec.txt

Another case in which Dean thought that when people were using the acronym E.P. for Environmental Protection, Dena thought they meant Expedite Permits.

proves to have a spotty environmental record then he isn't fit to serve as the Democratic Partys president.

Forget for a minute the fact I like animals, trees and clean rivers. The environment is a mircocosm of politics. It demonstrates what politicians will sell out and for what?

I hope Dean's record matches his rhetoric.