AlterNet- VA Governor takes big step backward

In a giant leap backward for mankind (and planet earth), Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has reversed a ban put in place by former governor Tim Kaine that prohibits state agencies from buying individual sized plastic water bottles.

 

The AP reports:

 

Then-Gov. Timothy Kaine issued the directive that the state shouldn’t buy plastic-bottled water, unless there’s an emergency or health reason, as part of an overall government resource-conservation plan. Plastic water bottles are a huge waste source worldwide, and their continued use has been criticized as adding to overall pollution.

 

But McDonnell scrubbed Kaine’s plastic-water-bottle ban, which he thought would harm state bottled-water manufacturers. It’s unclear what financial impact, if any, the ban had on such companies.

 

Um, yeah. What’s sad is that McDonnell is more worried about the bottom line for bottled water companies than he is about how he should be spending tax payers’ hard-earned money.  And he’s setting Virginia up for a big step backward — most other cities and states are moving in the exact opposite direction.

 

A survey recently released from the U.S Conference of Mayor found that out of 101 cities:

 

· 72 percent have considered eliminating or reducing bottled water purchases within city facilities;

· 45 percent sited “promoting public water” as the reason for taking action; and

· 44 percent have taken action to phase out city purchases and use of bottled water

And while the governor is worried about keeping his corporate cronies happy, he’s spending money on something that is absolutely unnecessary and is bad for the environment.

As Corporate Accountability International reports:

In FY09, it is estimated that Virginia state agencies spent at least $160,000 on bottled water.  In FY10, state spending reports showed that expenditures on bottled water were on the decline, with an estimated $126,000 spent in FY10 – an indication that the phase-out was in progress until McDonnell’s action this week.  Governor McDonnell’s move to revive state spending on bottled water comes at the same time that the Governor has introduced state budget proposals that would cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for K-12 education, including the elimination of school breakfast programs for low-income children.

Media coverage of the ban has included positive reactions to McDonnell’s action from Chris Saxman, Board Member of the International Bottled Water Association and employee of Shenandoah Valley Water Company, a major water bottler in Virginia.   Not coincidentally, initial reviews of state spending on bottled water show that Shenandoah Valley was far and away the single largest recipient of government money spent on bottled water; for example, the bottler received over $101,000 in cash payments from government agencies in FY09.
 

If you want to tell Gov. McDonnell he’s on the wrong track, you can take action here.

 

To read "VA Governor takes big step backward" click here.