Newspaper: Lawmakers Vote Against Air Pollution Limits

By: (AP) A majority of Houston-area lawmakers voted against legislation to improve screening for toxic air pollution, require companies to continuously monitor emissions and set fines for periodic releases, according to an analysis by the Houston Chronicle.

Twenty of the 34 area House representatives voted to table five amendments that included the pollution measures, the newspaper reported Monday. Those who voted against the measures were Republicans, and some represent industrial areas.

The party line votes -- which are not uncommon -- came during a session in which lawmakers received evidence that toxic pollution was a problem and Houston residents were concerned about it, according to the Chronicle.

In January, the state released data showing some communities had chemical levels that could increase cancer risks. In May, the 2005 Houston Area Survey showed nearly half of the residents who responded considered local pollution control poor, the newspaper reported.

"These numbers are shocking when you consider the myriad of air issues facing the Houston area," said Colin Leyden, executive director of the League of Conservation Voters.

Some lawmakers told the newspaper they thought the legislation needed more work and their votes should not imply they are not concerned about pollution.

"We can always do better. We just want to do better fairly," said Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, whose district includes the massive ExxonMobil refinery. "I do believe we should have good quality air to breathe."

Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, said a lot has already been done to clean things up, and that he's seen no proof pollution increases the risk of cancer.

"I have been around this all my life," he said. "I have been up to my waist in the levee which holds dredgings from out of the Ship Channel, and I don't have cancer yet."

Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, also voted to table the amendments.

"You are still having to overcome industry opposition," he said. "Industry still has a lot of say-so, even in areas like this, where public health and quality of life are at issue."

Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, who authored one of the amendments, said for some House members there is a perception "that if you vote for an amendment to clean up the air and water you are some sort of liberal activist."

In 2004, the petrochemical industry contributed more than $600,000 to legislators and state officials, according to the newspaper.

Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, who heads the House committee on Environmental Regulation, said the contributions had nothing to do with his vote. He said his motion to table the amendments was wanted by his constituents, who live and work in the plants.

"We understand these things, and we don't think they are dangerous," he said.

Bonnen said the amendments were tabled because they were impractical and knee-jerk solutions to a more complex problem.

"Something that gets raised of this magnitude, I don't care what it is, you are not going to get an immediate legislative response," Bonnen said. "On these issues, you have to have science and fact, but you also have to have it on the table, you have to discuss it and you have to come up with fair solutions."