A.11725/S.8643 (the Assembly and Senate numbers, respectively) is a bill that would require retail stores greater than 10,000 sq. ft. to accept for recycling any plastic bags they issue for customers to carry out their merchandise, and to sell recyclable (e.g. cloth) bags.

Great, so far as it goes. But...

The city recently passed a tougher law. It applies to stores as small as 5,000 sq. ft. It also requires stores to accept a variety of types of plastic for recycling. In a manner reminiscent of the notorious Urstadt Law (which prevents the city from enacting stronger rent laws than the state), this state law tramples on the city law by granting exclusive rights to the state to determine what and how stores must recycle. And that's the problem.

Call the Governor's executive office (518-474-8390) and tell him to VETO this bill.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has called on the governor to veto the state bill. The Council's press release follows below:

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

CITY HALL
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 25, 2008

Contact: 212-788-7116
Release # 058-2008

Council to Paterson: Bag This Bill
State Plastic Bag Recycling Bill Would Weaken NYC's Environmental Efforts

City Hall - Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and Council Members Peter Vallone, Jr. and Michael McMahon today called on Governor Paterson to block State legislation that would preempt and weaken the City Council's plastic bag recycling law. The State version of the City Council's bill would dramatically reduce the number of stores in New York City required to recycle plastic carryout bags. In addition, it would eliminate the City's ability to enforce any bag recycling law or ensure that businesses are in compliance.

"While I commend the State Legislature for following our lead and passing a statewide bill, the current version would cripple New York City's ability to implement an effective and comprehensive bag recycling program," said Speaker Quinn. "I am disappointed that the State would take such action without consulting the City Council, especially as our law is scheduled to take effect in a matter of weeks. This will only add confusion to the many businesses working to comply with our law. I urge Governor Paterson to veto the current legislation, and work with the City Council and State Legislature to maintain our stronger version of this law."

"Albany cannot seem to take one step forward without taking two steps back. It's great that they have enacted statewide plastic bag legislation, but it's terrible that they have significantly weakened our law and have restricted the right of New York City and others to do even more," said Peter F. Vallone Jr., who introduced the City Council's plastic bag recycling bill. "Albany is not just recycling our ideas, but also throwing our authority into the landfill."

"The State's legislation, while well intentioned, will undermine the hard work of the Council and advocate community to bring far reaching plastic bag recycling to New York City," said Sanitation Committee Chair Michael McMahon. "And by taking the power of enforcement out of local hands, they are all but ensuring that this legislation will go ignored. Governor Paterson can not allow the current legislation to become law."

Specific ways in which the State bill would weaken the City's law include:

• The State bill would preempt the City from taking stronger action on bag recycling, now or at any future point.
• While the Council's law applies to stores of 5,000 square feet or more and to chains under a common name, the State bill only applies to stores 10,000 square feet or more, and to chains under common ownership or management. The 5,000 square feet requirement is better suited to the City's needs, as stores tend to be much smaller than in other parts of the State.
• The State bill only applies to plastic carryout bags. The Council's law also required the recycling of film plastic, such as package wrap, dry cleaning bags and newspaper bags.

• The Council's law has clear responsibilities for manufacturers of plastic bags. They must, upon the request of a store owner to whom they sell plastic bags, make arrangements for the collection, transport and recycling of plastic pursuant to the provisions of the law. Under the State law, there appears to be no manufacturer obligation to collect, transport or recycle bags.

Despite the threat of a presidential veto, the House of Representatives passed legislation that will prevent a 10 percent Medicare payment cut to doctors scheduled to take place July 1, improve Medicare coverage of preventive and mental health services and eliminate enrollment barriers for low-income programs. HR.6331 passed 355 to 59, more than the two-thirds needed to override a veto.

The successful House vote will force a second Senate vote, scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 26. Earlier this month a similar bill was presented to the Senate, but failed to receive the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural hurdles. It did, however, receive support from 9 Republican senators, whose support we will still need on Thursday. We call upon them, and their colleagues, and upon all of the Democrat senators to be present and to cast their vote for people with Medicare.

HR.6331, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, will give doctors a modest pay raise instead of the drastic 10 percent Medicare pay cut that will take effect if Congress does not act. A pay cut could make more doctors reluctant to take on new Medicare patients and make it harder for older adults and people with disabilities to get the care they need.

The bill also makes long overdue improvements to Medicare by providing improved access to preventive services and parity in coverage for mental health services. It will also help more people with Medicare living below or just above the poverty level ($867 per month for an individual) get help with their drug costs and medical bills.

Additionally, HR.6331 will restrict the ability of insurance companies to use hard sell tactics for Medicare private health plans or to market plans without ensuring plan enrollees will have adequate access to doctors, specialists, local hospitals and other providers. It is these provisions—the ones that help people with Medicare and force insurance companies to change their practices—that have prompted a veto threat from the Bush administration. The bill needs 67 votes to be impermeable to this treat.

Some senators will fall in line behind President Bush and vote against the companion legislation in the Senate (S.3101). But, with your help, many more, both Republicans and Democrats, will vote for for this legislation. Write your senator or call 1-866-622-2184 to connect toll-free to the Capitol Switchboard. Ask for your senator by name, tell them you live in their state and that you want them to cast a vote for The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and for people with Medicare.

Thursday, June 26, 2008, 12:00-2:00pm
Demos
220 Fifth Ave., 5th Floor
New York, NY (btwn. 26th & 27th)

Introduction by Alan Jenkins, Executive Director, The Opportunity Agenda.

Moderator: Jennifer Wheary, Senior Fellow, Demos.

Panelists:
Tom Shapiro, Director, The Institute on Assets and Social Policy &
Pokross Professor of Law and Social Policy.
Sonia M. Perez,Senior Vice President for Affiliate Member Services, National Council of La Raza.
Sarah Ludwig, Executive Director, Neighborhood Economic Development, Advocacy Project.
William E. Spriggs, Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, Howard University.

What will our Middle Class look like ten years from now? The United States faces major challenges in sustaining a strong middle class in the decades ahead. Rapidly changing, often volatile economic conditions are making it more difficult to enter the middle class -- and stay there. Even as the bar to the middle class life is raised higher, economic opportunity is fading. As a result, the most rapidly growing groups in theU.S. -- particularly African Americans and Latinos -- face growing obstacles to entering, and staying in, America's middle class. In addition, to the aforementioned unstable economic conditions, minorities have an additional barrier - institutional discrimination. The panel will tackle the main institutional barriers that have kept minorities from entering or staying in the middle class and propose recommendations to make up for lost time.

Robert Wexler's new book, Fire-Breathing Liberal offers an inside perspective on his long and courageous fight on progressive issues.

Congressman Wexler's work on Impeachment and Inherent Contempt, his recent role in the Obama campaign, his opposition to FISA, torture and the attack on our Civil Rights, and his fight to bring our troops safely home from Iraq have made him a hero at Democracy for NYC.

Fire-Breathing Liberal will be especially interesting to those of us who signed the petition at WexlerWantsHearings.com. The chapter dealing with the WexlerWantsHearings Campaign shows how it came together, the rationale behind his call for hearings, and the struggle the campaign encountered in getting mainstream media coverage.

Beyond its literary value, there is another reason why you should buy this book: The more attention Wexler gets, the more exposure he will have on TV and radio to discuss Impeachment and related issues of accountability.

Democracy for NYC has been a strong supporter of Congressman Wexler through our meet and greet and fundraiser sponsorships in NYC. And, Congressman Wexler has been a good friend to us and the Nation.

If we can help drive this book onto the New York Times Best Sellers List, we will drive the discussion to a broader audience, and at the same time, show Congress that if you actually do your job, you will be rewarded.

Fire Breathing Liberal is available at finer bookstores everywhere and from amazon.com.