Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Texas Governor Rick Perry vetoes TV recycling bill
The Texas legislature passed HB 821 -- which sought to require TV manufacturers to set up a free recycling program for Texas residents looking to discard their old tube TVs -- and sent it to the governor's desk for approval.
Well, on Monday (June 22) word reached us that Governor Rick Perry vetoed the bill, leaving the way open for thousands of pounds of lead to enter Texas landfills and -- eventually -- our groundwater.
According to an email received from Zac Trahan with the Texas Campaign for the Environment, " ... this bill had no opposition and passed overwhelmingly in the House and unanimously in the Senate."
Leading one to wonder what factors the governor might have been weighing in deciding to veto the measure.
posted by JM
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AnnMarie Wilson, says:
Of course he did. He and his cronies obviously were NOT going to be making enough $$$ from the plan.
Don't you just love living in a state that is consistently reaffirming the 'I can be bought, you don't matter, power-money' mantra - and the bloody hell with anything and anyone else.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
annem, says:
Apparently all that lead leaked directly into the Gov's own drinking water. Lead causes brain malfunction, right?
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
John McClelland, says:
This is a man who doesn't believe in global warming because it snowed in S Dakota in June once. So why would he start wanting to recycle?
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Meyer, come now, your linked article gives a (very poor) reason:
*We also disagree with the governor's veto of a recycling mandate on television manufacturers, which he says would unfairly burden them with fees, regulations and reporting requirements.*
Some elaboration would be nice on how, exactly, it's unfair an industry is held accountable for the products it manufactured. I have a strong feeling said elaboration is in the form of money, hookers, blow...possibly all of the above.
You're our chief policymaker, ace. You're supposed to be in favor of regulation drafted by Texas to protect Texans.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Roger27, says:
This bill had nothing to do with recycling and everything to do with big manufacturers seeking to drive out the smaller competition (using "recycling regulation" as an attack-proof means of doing so).
Sen. Kirk Watson's website blames Perry for siding with "big business" on this, when it was big business that drew up the legislation along with the regulation-happy environmental groups.
If you want to recycle your TV, you can just take it to Best Buy and turn it in for $10, right now. There are a ton of options out there. Those who want to throw their TV's into trash cans would be better served by an education campaign than by this bill. And those who are arguing above that because of this decision Perry "doesn't want to recycle" have fallen for the big business ploy hook line and sinker, just like they were hoping you would. The governor should be applauded for his veto.
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Nice first comment, Roger!
While I don't disagree that people who would normally just throw it away without thinking twice probably wouldn't use a state-sponsored program to begin with, but you can't veto a bill b/c you suspect people are lazy.
I'm interested in hearing how this regulation would have pushed around smaller industry players. I don't see any exorbitant fees in the bill, and requiring a recovery plan along with monthly report doesn't sound mind-boggling. Might as well tell companies not to bother with safety plans or taxes b/c they're a burden.
Granted, I skimmed (lightly) over the bill...show me the money!
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Roger27, says:
Lightly skimming over the bill is all I did as well I confess. True, there are no exorbitant fees, but a mandatory "registration fee" (a tax by any other name, which will be passed on to the consumer) of $2,500/year is substantial for a small business. Not to mention all the administrative planning and reporting tasks that take up time that a smaller company might not have to spend. And to what end? It's not like a Sony TV can only be recycled by Sony.
I am totally in support of recycling TVs, and support environmental groups getting people to be responsible, but the answer should not be to burden each individual manufacturer with the same redundant requirements. That's a hidden tax and one which will inevitably weigh more heavily on the little guys. If Best Buy can profitably recycle them for $10/set, maybe the problem is already solving itself? A few well-designed incentives might do the trick as well.
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Roger, if $2,500 breaks you...you've got no place in the TV manu business. Severely doubt there are any "companies" piecing together TVs in their mom's garage and expecting to be a longstanding player in the industry.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
xdavidwattsx, says:
Awesome. Just in time for the digital TV conversion. Way to go, Texas!
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Really - a company that manufactures complicated pieces of electronics couldn't afford $2500 a year?
Are these hypothetical small businesses soldering together the television sets in their spare bedrooms?
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
momzilla, says:
Fort Worth already has an electronics recycling program in place.
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
gstefan, says:
Who manufactures TVs in Texas and why should they pay to recycle TVs they did not make? And why would they not just close up shop and move elsewhere? This was just a feel good bill designed to make liberals feel good about themselves.
There are already electronics recycling programs available. This bill does nothing to compel the consumer, who is responsible for their own TV, to use these resources.
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
<i>This bill does nothing to compel the consumer, who is responsible for their own TV, to use these resources. </i>
Best point in this thread. Nobody's going to truck their old TV somewhere if there's a dumpster within 50 yards.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
toonhead, says:
I think everyone in Texas should take their old monitors and TVs and dump them on Perry's front lawn. Then see how he feels about recycling.
Anonymous
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
AnnMarie Wilson, says:
I would take mine somewhere to be recycled. Just like I take the papers and computer stuff.
It doesn't take a lot of brain power to realize that's the smart thing to do - unless of course you're a lazy @ss and don't give a d@mn about anyone but yourself.
I agree with Toonhead - let the trucking begin.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, says:
Well, it's only a smart thing to do if you care about the future, which a lot of people don't.
Furthermore, a lot of people just don't believe that anything they - or anyone - does can have an impact. They reason that nature can take care of itself, a little lead won't hurt, that they're only one person and who cares if their TV leaks a little, etc., etc.
There are a billion ways to justify doing the wrong thing.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
AnnMarie Wilson, says:
Just like the 'my vote won't count' line.
If you don't (pick one or more)
... then you have no right at all to complain. <b>You sat there and did nothing - so you can continue to sit there and have no say in what happens.</b>
I really am far beyond any tolerance with people like that.
Verified
5 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
And I vote to recycle the Governor .....while Ann Marie Wilson,keep up the pace,you on Candid Camera and your doing great...A/T ...My free T.V dosent anyone have any free ideals.....
Verified
4 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal