Environmental Politics

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Environmental Politics
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Outline
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION Governmental How are
regulations passed and enacted?
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The need for regulation
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Protecting Common Resources
THE UNDERLYING ECONOMICS Companies benefit
financially by polluting. Companies profit by
using federal lands.
THE PROBLEM Pollution destroys common
resources Water, air, soil, forests Used
resources are not replaced
THE QUESTION Who protects common resources from
ruin at the hands of industry?
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Protecting Common Resources
THE ANSWER
THE GOVERNMENT!
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION Federal, state, and
local governments Enact and enforce regulations
on development, water pollution, air pollution,
etc.
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Creating regulations
While this occurs at all levels of government, we
are going to focus on the federal government.
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Environmental Legislation
Legislation proposed
HOW ARE THESE REGULATIONS MADE?
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
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Environmental Legislation
To simplify things, let's look only at federal
laws
HOW IS FEDERAL LEGISLATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATIONS ENACTED?
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Federal Legislation
STEP 1 Bill introduced into committee in
Congress Committee reviews bill can die there
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
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Federal Legislation
STEP 5 If signed into law, executive agency
oversees environmental 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
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Governmental Agencies
If the legislation gets passed, there needs to be
governmental oversight of the regulations passed.
This falls to the executive branch 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

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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/
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Department of Interior

• Oversees natural resources on federal lands
• Contains the National Park Service, Bureau of
  Land Management,Fish and Wildlife Service, and
  the Minerals Management Service
• NPS and FWS control national parks, monuments,
  and wildliferefuges also responsible for
  administering the Endangered SpeciesAct
• BLM and MMS 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
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Department of Agriculture

• 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

Website - http//www.usda.gov/
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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

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Mainstream Active Groups

• 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

http//www.sierraclub.org/
http//www.iwla.org/
http//www.audubon.org/
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Mainstream Passive Groups

• 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

nature.org
www.wwf.org
www.environmentaldefense.org
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Radical Groups

• 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

www.earthliberationfront.com
www.earthfirst.org
www.greenpeace.org
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Environmental Legislation
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS ARE PASSED BY
POLITICIANS
TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS,
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND POLITICS
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Politicians
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Federal Politicians
POLITICIANS Officials elected to represent
constituents
PRESIDENT Only one. Elected by national
vote Represents entire country (4 yrs.)
SENATOR Two elected from every state Represent
their state (6 yrs.)
CONGRESSMAN Multiple (usually) elected from
each state Represent congressional districts (2
yrs.)
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Federal Politicians
GETTING REELECTED
GOAL
HOW DO THEY GET REELECTED? (1.) Get benefits for
home district ? Federal funding for local
projects ? Protect local industries
EXAMPLES
West VA politicians oppose restrictions on
coal Michigan politicians oppose auto
regulations Georgia legislators oppose military
cuts support funding for new planes at Lockheed
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Federal Politicians
GETTING REELECTED
GOAL
(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 - theyll be long gone. But if
they foul up the economy, theyll be sent home
next Election Day.
Time Magazine, April 9, 2001
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Federal Politicians
GETTING REELECTED
GOAL
(3.) Raise tons of money for reelection
campaign ? No term limits on senators/congressma
n ? Campaigns every 2 (Cong.) or 6 (Sen.) yrs
CAMPAIGNS ARENT CHEAP
WINNING CAMPAIGN COSTS (2006) Senator (6 yrs)
9,600,000 Congressman (2 yrs) 1,250,000
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Whats the money for?
CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES TV ads, radio ads,
workers, web sites, bumper stickers, billboards,
traveling expenses, cool lookin' buttons...
QUESTION Does having more campaign money help?
ANSWER
THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST CAMPAIGN MONEY WINS
90 OF THE TIME
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Money and politics Campaign finance
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Campaign Finance
POLITICIAN'S GOAL
GET REELECTED
CANDIDIATE WITH THE MOST MONEY WINS
ELECTION SUCCESS
MEANS TO YOUR GOAL
RAISE LOTS OF MONEY
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Where do they get the money?
LOBBYISTS Represent special interest
groups Industries (e.g., oil), groups (retired
people)
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Individuals,
corporations, and lobbyists donate money to
politicians for their campaigns
SIDE BENEFITS Politicians get gifts and trips
from lobbyists Trips passed off as
informational
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Oil and Gas Industry
Top contributors (2007)
Source Center for Responsive Politics
(www.opensecrets.org) Year 2008
data is up to reporting by Oct. 2008
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Electric Utilities
Top Contributors (2007)
Source Center for Responsive Politics
(www.opensecrets.org) Year 2008
data is up to reporting by Oct. 2008
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Alternative Energy
Top Contributors (2007)
Source Center for Responsive Politics
(www.opensecrets.org) Year 2008
data is up to reporting by Oct. 2008
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Votes For Sale?
POLITICIANS Readily accept money and benefits
from lobbyists, but claim it doesnt affect their
voting
HUMAN NATURE Are you going to give money to
someone if you expect to get nothing in return?
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How It Works
LOBBYISTS Want the most bang for their
buck Money gives them incredible access to
politicians Usually give more money to committee
chairs Sometimes write the legislation for the
Congressman Sometimes become an appointed part
of the government in one of the executive agencies
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Ways Money Can Kill Legislation
WHILE BILL IS IN COMMITTEE Chairperson delays
or refuses to call vote on bill Bill 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
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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 money to
widen Barrett Parkway
Congressman from OH adds rider to let local power
company exceed set pollution limits
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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
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Money, Politics, and the Environ.
INDUSTRY Wants to keep costs down cheaper to
pollute Cheaper to kill regulations than not
pollute Lobby 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
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Summarizing
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION Protects common
resources from pollution Regulations passed by
politicians
POLITICIANS AND MONEY Industry lobbyists
provide gifts/donations Politicians reciprocate
with favorable legislation
Donations fund costly reelection
campaigns Reelection seniority more lobbyist
benefits
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So how are environmental laws ever passed?
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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
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Passing Environmental Laws
PROBLEM Public largely apathetic about
politics Working longer, no time for such things
PUBLIC OPINION VS. INDUSTRY MONEY Money wins
every time when public isnt involved Public
rarely involved, so money usually wins
CLASSIC ENVIRONMENTALIST APPROACH Educate the
public, pressure politicians Some successes,
but many failures
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Is it public apathy on issues?
Not Very Serious 14
Is global warming a very serious problem, a
fairly serious problem, not a very serious
problem, or not at all serious?
Very Serious 43
Fairly Serious 32
Not at all serious 7
Source Time Magazine (April, 2001)
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Public support for action?
Should President Bush develop a plan to reduce
the emission of gases that may contribute to
global warming?
No 26
Yes 67
Source Time Magazine (April, 2001)
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A lack of understanding?
Are emissions of gases like carbon dioxide
causing global temperature increases?
No 23
Yes 64
Source Time Magazine (April, 2001)
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Empathy for Industry?
When it comes to protecting the environment, does
the government give in to business interests too
often?
No 26
Yes 69
Source Time Magazine (April, 2001)
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Personal sacrifice?
Would you be willing to pay and extra 25 cents
per gallon of gas to reduce pollution and global
warming?
No 49
Yes 48
Source Time Magazine (April, 2001)
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Personal sacrifice?
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?
Your utility bills went up
A mild increase in inflation
Unemployment increased
Yes 38
No 39
No 49
Yes 47
No 54
Yes 54
Source Time Magazine (April, 2001)
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Talking the talk
Weve got to stop global warming!
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Campaign Finance Resources
Federal Election Commission http//www.fec.gov
The Center for Responsive Politics
http//www.opensecrets.org
Reporters Reference Center on Campaign Finance
Reform http//www.benton.org/neustadt/reporters/