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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
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Red-state governor shoots down bill banning this common hospitality industry item
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed legislation that would largely ban Styrofoam containers, dubbing it "textbook government overreach." House Bill 477 would phase out the use of the containers by 2030, but starting in 2028 for restaurants and the hospitality industry. Introduced by Democrat state Rep. Marilyn Marler, the legislation garnered some bipartisan support in the Republican-majority legislature. Watch: Red State Gov Urges Firearms Makers To Ditch Colorado Amid Its Anti-gun Push "Our state should remain a sanctuary for freedom and free enterprise, and let high taxes, high spending, and hyper-regulation remain a feature of deep blue, progressive states," the Republican wrote in his veto letter, citing how various blue states like California and Washington have imposed similar regulations. "Frankly, I was surprised to receive House Bill 477 which dictates to restaurants, food establishments, bakeries, resorts, hotels, and others what they can and can't use to package food and drinks," he continued. Proponents of the legislation argued that the material poses a health and environmental risk, and many places have already stopped using Styrofoam, according to KTVQ. Read On The Fox News App Cutting The 'Green Tape': Conservation Group Offers Top 10 Ways For Dept Of Interior To Streamline Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte The bill stated that polystyrene foam "is a material that causes environmental harm and poses a threat to fish and wildlife; and whereas, styrofoam takes up space in landfills and contributes to the need for costly expansions borne by taxpayers; and whereas, styrofoam threatens the right of each Montanan to a clean and healthful environment." The proposal included a few exceptions but would require an application for using the foam as it relates to "transportation; construction; health; or safety." "Finally, if policymakers are trying to get rid of Styrofoam, which I'm not, why only target restaurants and food-service establishments? Why not packaging supplies? Though I'm not advocating such an approach, targeting one industry that uses Styrofoam and not another seems inconsistent with the purported purpose of House Bill 477," the governor wrote. Gop Governor Rallies Around Historic Proposal To Slash State's Income Tax: 'I Am Optimistic' "The state banning Styrofoam is costly government overreach," Gianforte said, saying it would cost taxpayers an estimated $300,000 through a new Montana Department of Environmental Quality program and could create additional costs for consumers if businesses are forced to make the switch. "I enjoy hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess," he said in a video posted to X on Monday. Original article source: Red-state governor shoots down bill banning this common hospitality industry item
Fox News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Red state governor shoots down bill banning this common hospitality industry item
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed legislation that would largely ban Styrofoam containers, dubbing it "textbook government overreach." House Bill 477 would phase out the use of the containers by 2030, but starting in 2028 for restaurants and the hospitality industry. Introduced by Democrat state Rep. Marilyn Marler, the legislation garnered some bipartisan support in the Republican-majority legislature. WATCH: RED STATE GOV URGES FIREARMS MAKERS TO DITCH COLORADO AMID ITS ANTI-GUN PUSH "Our state should remain a sanctuary for freedom and free enterprise, and let high taxes, high spending, and hyper-regulation remain a feature of deep blue, progressive states," the Republican wrote in his veto letter, citing how various blue states like California and Washington have imposed similar regulations. "Frankly, I was surprised to receive House Bill 477 which dictates to restaurants, food establishments, bakeries, resorts, hotels, and others what they can and can't use to package food and drinks," he continued. Proponents of the legislation argued that the material poses a health and environmental risk, and many places have already stopped using Styrofoam, according to KTVQ. CUTTING THE 'GREEN TAPE': CONSERVATION GROUP OFFERS TOP 10 WAYS FOR DEPT OF INTERIOR TO STREAMLINE The bill stated that polystyrene foam "is a material that causes environmental harm and poses a threat to fish and wildlife; and whereas, styrofoam takes up space in landfills and contributes to the need for costly expansions borne by taxpayers; and whereas, styrofoam threatens the right of each Montanan to a clean and healthful environment." The proposal included a few exceptions but would require an application for using the foam as it relates to "transportation; construction; health; or safety." "Finally, if policymakers are trying to get rid of Styrofoam, which I'm not, why only target restaurants and food-service establishments? Why not packaging supplies? Though I'm not advocating such an approach, targeting one industry that uses Styrofoam and not another seems inconsistent with the purported purpose of House Bill 477," the governor wrote. GOP GOVERNOR RALLIES AROUND HISTORIC PROPOSAL TO SLASH STATE'S INCOME TAX: 'I AM OPTIMISTIC' "The state banning Styrofoam is costly government overreach," Gianforte said, saying it would cost taxpayers an estimated $300,000 through a new Montana Department of Environmental Quality program and could create additional costs for consumers if businesses are forced to make the switch. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I enjoy hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess," he said in a video posted to X on Monday.
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.
