ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

By Jean Siebenaler

A clean environment is paramount to good health. All of the expensive medicines in the world cannot make up for this basic fact. It is for this reason I believe we must do all we can to protect our environment. Therefore, as a state representative, I pledge to work toward legislation which supports:

1. Smart Growth Planning principles in order to reduce traffic congestion, preserve and protect open green space and farmland, provide greater transportation choices, rejuvenate urban cores and older suburbs, and create better neighborhoods for us all. Unfortunately, there has been a myth that environmental protection hurts the economy. Studies, however, show that the economics of states with high environmental standards have grown consistently faster than those with weak regulations, and economic prosperity and environmental health rise and fall together.

2. complete taxpayer impact studies for proposed major developments, especially the increased costs due to additional schools, additional water and sewer lines, road maintenance, police and fire protection, and other public services, The average citizen is unaware of the fact that open land pays far more--often twice as much--in property taxes than it costs in public services. In addition, open land absorbs floods, recharges aquifers, cleans the air, harbors wildlife, and increases the value of nearby property.

3. Integration of the state departments' policies and goals of the in areas of economic development, land use, transportation, health, education, public safety, telecommunications, water resources, and intergovernmental relations,

4. A voluntary incentive-based state investment programs to achieve the developed goals for sound planning.