Huckabee’s environmental philosophy -- Fighting against controlling pollution in Arkansas

[RedEarth]

Source: iowapolitics.com

Des Moines – Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee spent years fighting attempts by Oklahoma to institute stricter pollution controls to protect their waterways. Huckabee opposed efforts to reduce the amount of phosphorous in the Illinois River that threatened fish populations, changed the color of the water and caused foul taste and odor.

“Mike Huckabee needs to explain to Iowans why he supported large corporate interests over the welfare of his citizens,” said Carrie Giddins, Iowa Democratic Party Communications Director. “Huckabee cannot ignore the environment to help the mega farms that pollute our nation’s rivers.”

2002: Oklahoma Signed Water Pollution Standards That Huckabee Said Were Not Driven by “Sound Science,” Would Affect Upriver Arkansas. In 2002, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating signed water pollution standards that Arkansas officials said would harm development in their state. Keating, in a letter to Huckabee, said the rules were needed because voluntary restrictions had not worked. Huckabee argued the rules would restrict growth in booming northwestern Arkansas, which had many poultry farms. He said Keating made a decision “driven more by environmental politics than by sound science.” The rules restricted the level of phosphorus in the six rivers to 0.037 parts per million. The average phosphorus level of the Illinois at Watts - near where the river crossed from Arkansas into Oklahoma - was 0.25 parts per million, or about seven times the new standard. The rules were aimed at reducing levels of phosphorus in the Illinois River and five other Oklahoma waterways. Environmental officials said phosphorus from sewage, animal waste and fertilizer was promoting the growth of algae, which in turn threatened fish by reducing oxygen levels. The algae also turned the water green and created a foul odor and taste. Arkansas would be affected because the Illinois River flows from Arkansas to Oklahoma. A 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision said upstream states are subject to downriver water quality regulations.

.........

Huckabee Asked AG to Fight Oklahoma’s “Crazed Obsession” of Pollution Control. A day after a federal judge in Oklahoma gave the attorney general to begin seeking samples of soil, water and poultry litter from 21 Arkansan farms, Huckabee asked Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe to fight against the “crazed obsession” of Oklahoma’s attorney general against poultry companies with operations in Arkansas. “I want to protect our citizens from the irrational and crazed obsession that the Oklahoma AG has to make a name for himself by the ongoing harassment of our companies, cities and private landowners who have been berated and falsely accused by Mr. Edmondson,” Huckabee said through his spokesman, Alice Stewart. “Years of attempting to have good-faith discussions with have been fruitless, and he appears so focused on his ongoing publicity stunt that he cares not if he single-handedly destroys the good neighbor relations we've historically had with Oklahoma,” Huckabee said. Edmondson has contended since his federal lawsuit was filed in June that his dispute is with eight poultry companies with operations in Arkansas, not the state of Arkansas. Edmondson sued Cargill Inc. of Minneapolis; Cobb-Vantress Inc. and Simmons Foods Inc., both of Siloam Springs; George's Inc. of Springdale; Peterson Farms Inc. of Decatur; Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale; Willow Brook Foods of Springfield, Mo.; and Cal-Maine Foods Inc. of Jackson, Miss.


Read more: http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=112072

[Deep13]

1. General observation: Republicans suck. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

2. Don't worry about the Hounddawg -- Huckleberry is a non-starter.

His dedication to an anti-abortion amendment will prevent him from getting the GOP nod. He's going nowhere.

[alfredo]

3. They do not want abortion outlawed, it more useful as is.

[Buzz Clik]

6. "They" being the GOP? Absolutely. Roe v Wade is one of those Rovian divisive issues they love.

The GOP can dangle abortion in front on any rightwinger, and they'll start barking and snarling and frothing at the mouth. It helps remind the knuckledraggers that libruls are murderers and baby killers.

Huckleberry, however, wants it banned nationwide until the end of time.

[alfredo]

7. If it isn't abortion, it will be immigrants, gays, independent women.

[Buzz Clik]

8. Yeah, but they are not nearly the flash point as abortion.

People who dislike gays and strong women are clearly unsure of their own station in life and are easy to bounce around. Somebody wild-eyed about "baby killing" is a tougher target.

[AndyTiedye]

10. Once They Ban Abortion They Can Go After Birth Control

[Buzz Clik]

11. And why not? Gay fundamentalist bathroom rompers have little need for birth control.

[alfredo]

12. That's been their plan all along. My aunt was an early member of

Operation Rescue. She bragged about their agenda.

[alfredo]

13. Any port in a storm.

[TwilightGardener]

4. But...but now he's an environmental convert. Jesus suddenly wants him to

take care of the earth, now that he doesn't need Tyson's support.

[rodeodance]

5. its the many chickenfarms there that are a problem also.

[karynnj]

9. He was not the only Arkansas governor with a bad environmental record

Even the most famous one was not good on the environment.