Latest news with #HouseBill477
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor sparks criticism with perplexing statement after vetoing public safety bill: 'What he said was wrong'
Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana made a decision that could cause a significant setback in the journey toward sustainable food packaging in the state. As detailed by the Daily Montanan in early May, a video posted on social media showed Gianforte, a Republican, explaining why he vetoed a bill that would have gradually phased out the use of Styrofoam in local food establishments. "This bill would create a new government program costing $300,000," Gianforte said in the video released on May 5, the same day he vetoed the bill. "The state banning Styrofoam is costly government overreach, and, like many Montanans, I enjoy hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup, because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess." The sponsor of House Bill 477, Representative Marilyn Marler, a Democrat, seemed to indicate to the Daily Montanan that she feels the governor missed the point of the bill to protect the environment and overall human health. "What he said was wrong. He was trying to be bombastic," Marler said. "He put more effort into his silly video than in trying to understand the bill." House Bill 477 would have phased out Styrofoam containers from restaurants and other establishments, banning items such as coffee cups, plates, and trays. In Montana, around 7,500 establishments would have been affected, but the ban would not have been applied to other industries — for example, in medical supply transportation, where a suitable alternative may not be readily available. Despite its popularity, Styrofoam, which is made from polystyrene, may pose health and environmental threats. The material is not recyclable, causing it to end up in landfills before breaking down into microplastics that can pollute the environment and accumulate in our bodies. Styrofoam also contains chemicals that may leach into food and be ingested by wildlife and humans. Leading up to the veto, the bill had bipartisan support. According to the Daily Montanan, it passed 56-44 in the House and 26-24 in the Senate, with all Democrats and a total of 26 Republicans voting for the bill. "I don't think people realize the fact that it leaches into food," Senator Daniel Zolnikov, a Republican, told the local outlet. "Change is hard, but children have these chemicals leaching into their food, and we just know more about that than we used to. It seemed like a logical thing since we've realized how unhealthy it is." Unfortunately, it may be back to the drawing board for those in Montana who were looking forward to this large-scale transition to more sustainable food packaging. Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Other states like Oregon, Washington, California, and New York have already taken steps to reduce or ban the use of Styrofoam in the food industry, per the Daily Montanan. These initiatives promote reusable, eco-friendly alternatives likely to be far less harmful to the environment and to human health. But even in places where Styrofoam bans don't currently exist, consumers can try to avoid single-use items that contribute to pollution and potentially harm human health. Many coffee shops will fill to-go mugs from home, for example, and you can consider bringing glass or stainless steel containers to tote leftovers from restaurants. It can also make a difference to support candidates who champion climate-friendly policies and policies focused on a healthier future for all. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Montana governor vetoes bill that would phase out styrofoam use in food industry
Top view of a stack of polystyrene containers (number 6 plastic). Gov. Greg Gianforte went beyond the regular duties of his office — sending a letter to lawmakers informing them of the reasons he vetoed a bill — and shared a video on social media explaining why he didn't sign a measure that would have phased out the use of styrofoam in the food industry. 'This bill would create a new government program costing $300,000,' said Republican Gianforte in the video on May 5, the day he vetoed the bill. 'The state banning styrofoam is costly government overreach, and like many Montanans, I enjoy hot coffee in a styrofoam cup, because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess.' But the sponsor of House Bill 477, Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula, said she didn't think the governor understood what the law actually intended — protecting human health and the environment. 'What he said was wrong. He was trying to be bombastic,' Marler told the Daily Montanan. 'He put more effort into his silly video than in trying to understand the bill.' House Bill 477 would have created a five-year phaseout of expanded polystyrene foam — commonly called 'styrofoam' — containers used in serving or packaging food from restaurants and food establishments. The phase out, which would have applied to roughly 7,500 establishments in Montana, would have included coffee cups, plates, trays and other food and drink containers. It would not have applied to other industries, such as packaging and shipping products, which the bill sponsor and other proponents said was intended to address some of the direct harms of styrofoam. Studies have shown that hot, fatty and acidic conditions — for example a takeout container of pork carnitas — can cause styrofoam to leach chemicals into food, increasing the amount ingested and contributing to the growing number of microplastics found throughout human bodies. Styrene and other chemicals found in food packaging have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption and other chronic health conditions, a fact that created a diverse coalition of supporters for HB 477. Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, carried the bill through the Senate and described himself as a 'Make America Healthy Again Republican.' 'I don't think people realize the fact that it leaches into food,' he told the Daily Montanan. 'Change is hard, but children have these chemicals leaching into their food, and we just know more about that than we used to. It seemed like a logical thing since we've realized how unhealthy it is.' Zolnikov said it was worth getting the bill through the Legislature, but that the governor's veto was 'probably to be expected.' House lawmakers passed the bill 56-44 in March, and the Senate passed the bill 26-24 in April. All Democrats and a total 26 Republicans voted for the bill, and Marler said many businesses had supported the bill. But Gianforte, in his veto letter, said that styrofoam bans and 'hyper-regulation' are features found in progressive blue states — such as Oregon, Washington California and New York — and don't belong in Montana. Calling it 'textbook government overreach,' Gianforte said banning styrofoam would increase costs for restaurants and consumers and create a new government program at the Department of Environmental Quality. 'I'd prefer to keep government limited, not grow it unnecessarily,' he wrote. Marler also said Gianforte misrepresented the cost of the bill, which would not have come from taxpayer funds. Instead, it would have come from an existing Solid Waste Management Account funded by fees paid by businesses seeking exemption from the phase-out, or by fines levied by DEQ. Roughly $75,000 a year would have paid for a part-time employee to oversee parts of the program. Gianforte's veto letter also questioned why the legislation was aimed at only the food industry, which 'seems inconsistent with the purported purpose of House BIll 477.' Marler said she tried to set up a meeting with the Governor to help talk about the bill after it passed the Legislature, but never heard anything back. 'I just feel that if he had looked at the vote count and seen the variety of people who voted for it and asked just one question, he would have heard that people were really concerned about the health effects,' Marler said. In addition to House Bill 477, Gianforte has vetoed one other bill as of Tuesday afternoon, House Bill 607, sponsored by Democrat Paul Tuss, to expand insurance coverage for hearing loss. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials approve sweeping ban on controversial food packaging: 'If the feds aren't gonna do it, we're gonna do it'
If you've ever gotten takeout from a restaurant, there's a good chance that at some point, your food was packaged into a Styrofoam container. While Styrofoam is effective at being a lightweight, protective packaging material and a great insulator, it has long been the target of environmental groups. However, for folks in Montana, single-use Styrofoam food containers may soon be a thing of the past. House Bill 477 was introduced by representative Marilyn Marler. The bill refers to Styrofoam as a "material that causes environmental harm and poses a threat to fish and wildlife." According to the bill, "Styrofoam threatens the right of each Montanan to a clean and healthful environment." The bill would ban the use of Styrofoam containers in the food industry by 2030. This includes the use of containers used to serve or package food from restaurants and food establishments. Meaning everything from coffee cups, plates, and trays would soon be phased out in the state. As reported by the Daily Montanan, H.B. 477 passed in the Montana House of Representatives in March with a vote of 56 to 44. In April, the bill was passed in the Senate by just two votes. Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene, can take a very long time to properly decompose in landfills. Some estimates suggest it could take 500 years or more. The decomposition process is not a complete breakdown but rather a fragmentation into smaller and smaller pieces, potentially leading to microplastics. Microplastics have been reported to have the ability to accumulate in various food sources, including marine life and mammals. This can carry pollutants and toxins to humans. While the specific health effects in humans are still being researched, studies suggest potential risks such as gastrointestinal issues, inflammation, and disruption of endocrine and reproductive systems. Senator Daniel Zolnikov, one of the most vocal proponents of H.B. 477, emphasized the importance of the bill. "We have chemicals in our food, we have chemicals touching our food, we are being poisoned in more ways than we know," Zolnikov said, per the Daily Montanan. "This is an easy way to say if the feds aren't gonna do it, we're gonna do it. We're gonna phase it out." Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Montana moves to ban styrofoam containers in food industry
A bill to ban polystyrene foam takeout containers has passed the Montana Legislature. (Getty images) Senator Daniel Zolnikov brought one of life's biggest dilemmas to the Senate floor over the weekend: When you're microwaving leftovers, how do you determine the perfect amount of time needed to evenly heat your food? Specifically, how long should you heat up your takeout pork carnitas in its styrofoam container? 'Is it a minute? A minute-and-a-half? The ultimate, ultimate microwave dilemma' Zolnikov asked. 'Better to do it a little longer than have it still be cold in the middle.' However, that decision comes with increased risks 'But you microwaved it too long, and the styrofoam has had some small portions that now also melted.' Zolnikov carried House Bill 477 through the Senate, a bill that would ban the use of styrofoam containers in the food industry within five years. He, and other proponents of the legislation, urged lawmakers to consider the known health risks of polystyrene foam, as well as the environmental concerns of using a material that doesn't break down easily. But opponents in the Senate, and in prior House debates, decried the legislation as governmental overreach and asked for free-market solutions to handle the problem. HB 477, introduced by Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula, provides for a phase out of expanded polystyrene foam — commonly called styrofoam — containers used to serve or package food from restaurants and food establishment, including coffee cups, plates, trays, and other food and drink carriers. The law would affect roughly 7,500 establishments in Montana, according to the bill's fiscal note. The bill creates a three-step process for the phaseout beginning in 2028 with the use of styrofoam containers used to serve food consumed on site. The next year it expands to packaging prepared food, and in 2030 will apply to food packagers and include bakery items and other prepared food. The Department of Environmental Quality would be tasked with ensuring compliance with the rule and issuing fines. House lawmakers passed the bill 56-44 in March, and the Senate on Saturday passed the bill 26-24. In Zolnikov's microwave example, he asked lawmakers to contemplate a meal of pork carnitas, ordered as takeout from a favorite restaurant, a delicious dish that is hot, fatty and acidic. Those three conditions enhance the leaching of chemicals into food, increasing the amount ingested, and contributing to the growing number of microplastics found in all human bodies, including newborn babies. In addition, styrene and other chemicals found in food packaging have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption and other chronic health conditions. 'The thing is, consumers assume our food and food storage products are safe and healthy, and when we realize they aren't, we take action, or we're supposed to,' Zolnikov said. The bill applies only to styrofoam in the food service industry — not its use in transportation, construction or health and safety industries. It also exempts 'raw, uncooked meat, fish, or eggs,' where styrofoam is often used as an insulator to keep those items cold, lowering the risk of chemical leaching. Despite the health concerns — widely agreed on by lawmakers — several Senators opposed the bill for its overreach into people's lives. 'You should not be heating up food in your microwave in a styrofoam container, in a plastic container, on melamine plates, just about anything, except maybe glass. What you should be doing, if you're concerned about your health and your kids' health and your grandkids' health, heat it up in a frying pan. Not a frying pan with Teflon in it. A good old cast iron frying pan,' said Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, adding that he felt such a law should be the role of the federal government. 'That's the problem with this bill. There are so many other products out there that are causing harm to our health … I don't like styrofoam either, but this isn't the answer.' Eleven other states have passed similar statewide laws, as have numerous local governments. Other opponents raised concerns that the bill might set a precedent to expand to other industries in the future, while proponents expounded on the environmental benefits. 'I've seen them floating in ponds or water. I've seen fish eating the particles that break up,' Sen. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula said. '…You also will see birds picking up styrofoam, using it in nests and other places eating it as well. And so there's other things that styrofoam is actually impacting, not just on the food service side.' The bill was amended in a Senate committee to extend the phase-out timeframe from five to 10 years, but the Senate body changed the bill back to its original form on the floor. 'If all those arguments aren't enough to get everybody to vote yes on this, I've got a few more,' said Sen. Bruce 'Butch' Gillespie, R-Ethbridge, who brought the amendment on the floor. He said that businesses in Montana could manufacture biodegradable packaging using sustainable sources such as hemp. 'Let this be the beginnings of a whole new industry for Montana here.' HB 477 contains a process for a business to request a waiver if they can show undue hardship, such as finding no suitable alternatives for food packaging. A fiscal note for the bill also shows the state would fund a half-time employee to develop and oversee the exemption program. 'We have chemicals in our food, we have chemicals touching our food, we are being poisoned in more ways than we know,' Zolnikov said. 'This is an easy way to say if the feds aren't gonna do it, we're gonna do it. We're gonna phase it out.'
