How Green do they lean?
This rating of state legislators was compiled by the South
Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club, which considered state legislators'
votes on environmental legislation. This is what they debated and how they
cast their votes. Take score. Take action.
Chem-Nuclear Waste Facility
in Barnwell County (H. 3362)
The Chem-Nuclear Waste Facility was scheduled to close Dec. 31, 1995.
Led by Gov. David Beasley, a provision to keep the dump open was attached
as a provision to the General Appropriations Bill (H. 3362.) As a result,
there was no debate on keeping the dump open and South Carolina pulled
out of the regional compact when the budget was adopted.
Corporate Farm Bill (H. 3446)
This bill would remove local control over industrial hog and poultry
farms. It passed the House and failed in the Senate.
Environmental Audit Privilege (H.
3624)
This bill would allow corporations to keep internal environmental
audits secret and grant immunity to polluters who audit their own
environmental violations. It passed the House and failed in the Senate.
Regulatory Cost/Benefit (H. 3581)
This bill would attach very restrictive constraints on DHEC 
such as
evaluating a new regulation's cost on "competition" before any new
regulation could be promulgated. It would hamstring DHEC's ability to
protect public health and safety through new regulations. It passed the
House and failed in the Senate.
Takings, or Private Property Protection
Acts
(H. 3790, S. 121, S. 374, S. 839)
These bills could be the most damaging to the environment of any
legislation introduced in 1995. Their adoption would effectively limit
state government's ability to regulate the use of private property through
zoning or environmental regulation without compensating the owner.
These bills were not brought to a vote and sponsorship was used to
rate legislators. Watch for this legislation to be brought up again this
session.
DHEC Confirmation (Cyndi Mosteller)
SENATE VOTE ONLY
Cyndi Mosteller's appointment by Gov. Beasley to the DHEC Board was
opposed by environmentalists because of fears she places industries'
interests ahead of environmental concerns, her lack of knowledge on
environmental regulations and potential conflicts of interests. Mosteller
was confirmed by the Senate.
See how they were ranked in the Senate and the House.
