The question of "paper or plastic" will be replaced by one penny or no penny if a proposal in the New York Legislature becomes law. A proposal in the senate (SB 4277) from Democrat Jose Serrano and from Democrat Steve Englebright in the Assembly (AB 6272), would impose a one penny tax on single use carryout plastic bags to help fund state parks and historic sites.
The idea behind these bills is that the under-funded state park systems would benefit from an additional source of revenue for capital expenditures, which could be realized by charging a one cent per bag tax. Their bill memo's argue that the state park system's are already in need of funds, which justifies this nominal fee.
This proposal has the strong support of the Open Space Institute, which is looking for any source of revenue in the wake of the $17 million in proposed cuts by Gov. Andrew Cuomo's budget. Erik Kulleseid, the director of the Alliance for New York State Parks, projected that the tax could generate $60 million a year and deter people from using plastic bags that end up littering landfills.
Showing posts with label Steve Englebright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Englebright. Show all posts
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Restrooms for the Public!
Tired of stores refusing to offer access to their restrooms? Well in the New York envisioned by Assemblyman Steven Englebright (and the parents of small children everywhere), businesses would not be allowed to deny the public access to the restroom designated for paying customers only.
Englebright has reintroduced (AB 3768), an old failure from the past that has never had a senate companion or advanced out of the Economic Development Committee.
What's really interesting about the proposal is that the memorandum for the bill doesn't lay out a justification. That section on the memo just lays out the summary of provisions, probably because the justification would simply revolve around the needs of small children and senior citizens.
If businesses choose to not comply with this provision (if somehow it became law), they would have to pay $500 per denial.
And who says New York is hostile to businesses? Oh yeah, anyone who knows about Assemblyman Englebright.
Englebright has reintroduced (AB 3768), an old failure from the past that has never had a senate companion or advanced out of the Economic Development Committee.
What's really interesting about the proposal is that the memorandum for the bill doesn't lay out a justification. That section on the memo just lays out the summary of provisions, probably because the justification would simply revolve around the needs of small children and senior citizens.
If businesses choose to not comply with this provision (if somehow it became law), they would have to pay $500 per denial.
And who says New York is hostile to businesses? Oh yeah, anyone who knows about Assemblyman Englebright.
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