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New York Bonds for Environmental Infrastructure Act (2014)

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The New York Bonds for Environmental Infrastructure Act was not on the November 4, 2014 ballot in New York as a legislatively referred bond question. The measure, upon voter approval, would have authorized $5 billion in state bonds for clean water and air infrastructure and natural resource protection.[1]

Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-11) sponsored the measure in the New York Assembly as Assembly Bill 8121.[1] Senator Mark Grisanti (R-60) sponsored the measure in the New York Senate as Senate Bill 5925.[2]

The New York Legislature approved the New York Bonds for School Technology Act, and because only one bond question may appear on the ballot per general election, the New York Bonds for Environmental Infrastructure Act did not appear on the ballot. The bond would have been the largest voters have ever been asked to approve in New York.[3]

Background

Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996

In 1996, voters in New York passed the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the bond act "devoted $1.75 billion to protect and restore the state's environment. Of that amount, $790 million in funding is devoted to clean water projects to help carry out existing management plans for major water resources. Funds are available for municipal wastewater treatment improvement, pollution prevention, agricultural and nonagricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, and aquatic habitat restoration. Significant support is available to acquire open space that protects water resources, acquire public parklands, and protect farmland. Funding is also available to help small businesses protect the environment, help small municipalities address flood control, and improve the safety of dams throughout New York. The Bond Act also specifically devotes $355 million for safe drinking water projects. These funds include $265 million for a revolving loan fund and $90 million for state assistance payments to economically distressed water systems upgrading their drinking water facilities.”[4]

Those who supported the New York Bonds for Environmental Infrastructure Act noted that, although the 1996 bond act significantly improved New York's environment, the funds were depleted and needed to be replenished.[1]

Text of measure

The ballot text would have read as:[1]

“ Shall chapter [inset the number of the chapter] of the laws of 2014 known as the clean water/clean air/green jobs bond act of 2014, authorizing the creation of state debt to provide moneys for the preservation, enhancement, restoration, and improvement of the quality of the state’s environment and natural resources, promote energy efficiency and energy security; and invest in the creation of clean and green jobs in the amount of five billion dollars be approved?[5] ”

Support

Supporters

Officials

The following senators and representatives supported the measure:

Organizations

  • Environmental Advocates of New York[3]
  • New York State Association of Counties[6]

Arguments

  • Assemblyman Sean Ryan argued that climate change is partly to blame for the crumbling wastewater infrastructure in New York. He said, “We know the hundred-year storms are coming twice a decade, and we have to be prepared for that.”[3]

Opposition

Arguments

  • E.J. McMahon, president of the conservative think tank, Empire Center for Public Policy, said, “It is excessive just on the face of it. To put it mildly, there are other needs in front of land acquisition and habitat restoration.” According to Buffalo News, McMahon also noted that, "the state already has $2.5 billion in outstanding debt for environmental projects."[3]

Path to the ballot

See also: Authorizing bond referendums in New York

According to Section 11, Article VII of the New York Constitution, a majority vote was required in the legislature, in order to qualify the bond question for the statewide ballot.

Only one bond question may appear on the ballot per general election; therefore, this act and the bonds for education technology act could not both appear on the ballot. Since the New York Legislature approved the other for the ballot, this bond act did not appear on the ballot.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 New York Senate, "Bill A8121-2013," accessed January 13, 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 New York Senate, "Bill S5925-2013," accessed January 13, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Buffalo News, "Grisanti proposes borrowing $5 billion for environmental improvements," August 21, 2013
  4. ↑ EPA.gov, "State Funding Programs New York's Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act," accessed June 18, 2014
  5. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑ NYSAC.org, "The county perspective on a new environmental bond act," accessed June 18, 2014
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