3/8 News Tribune of Tacoma —KATIE SCHMIDT; Staff writer
Despite industry opposition, a budget shortfall and vows by Republican lawmakers to focus on economic recovery alone this session, environmentalists in Olympia had reason to celebrate Monday, with two of their biggest legislative priorities moving on ahead of the deadline for voting bills out of their houses of origin.
The Environmental Priorities Coalition, which represents 24 environmental groups in the state, started off the year with four main legislative goals: end coal-fired electricity generation, limit phosphorus pollution from fertilizer, fund stormwater cleanup and mitigate budget cuts to environmental programs.
Ahead of Monday’s deadline for the each house to vote on its own policy bills, the Legislature passed bills to end coal power and limit phosphorus Representatives from the environmental lobby said they were pleased with the progress so far.
More at
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/08/1574707/environment-bills-get-past-important.html