The Real Rossi

We Can’t Trust Rossi to Protect Washington’s Environment

Dino Rossi: Wrong Values on the Environment

BACKGROUND: Dino Rossi’s record on the environment is clear. When it comes to protecting Washington’s open space and natural resources, Dino Rossi sides with irresponsible developers that make up the far-right Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) and against the interest of Washington citizens.

Rossi Backed by Extreme, Anti-Environment BIAW

The BIAW dismisses global warming and regularly criticizes environmental regulations meant to protect ground water and other natural resources. “The BIAW is the state's chief lobby against open space and climate change legislation. In a BIAW quiz, the ‘correct’ answer to the main cause of global warming is not pollution or the greenhouse effect, but ‘orbital eccentricities of Earth and variations of the sun's output.’” [Seattle PI, 4/1/2008]

The BIAW led the effort to weaken the Growth Management Act through a statewide ballot measure. In 1995, voters rejected Referendum 48, 60 to 40 percent. “McCabe said he hopes the initiative would lessen restrictions in major land-use regulations, particularly those dealing with wetlands, shorelines and the Growth Management Act.” [Seattle Times, 12/28/1998]

BIAW alone in opposing the clean up of Puget Sound. “The biggest disappointment of the session came with the Legislature’s passage of the Puget Sound Partnership bill (SB5372). Although advocates of the PSE insist the new agency will not have regulatory authority, the new law gives bureaucrats the power to develop an action agenda that will contain “goals and objectives” which local governments will be required to meet. If local governments do not implement these “goals and objectives,” they risk losing state funding. This bill was the environmental lobby’s top priority. BIAW was alone in fighting the bill as major business groups and associations in Olympia jumped on board or quietly sat by as the bill passed.” ["2007 Annual Report," BIAW]

The BIAW is Rossi’s largest financial backer. In 2004, the BIAW spent close to $1 million in support of Dino Rossi’s campaign for governor. [Seattle PI, 12/10/2007]

The BIAW is already hard at work raising money for Rossi’s 2008 campaign. “One of BIAW President Doyle’s top priorities in 2007 was to meet with each of BIAW’s 15 local associations throughout the state and encourage local association leaders and members to become active participants in the upcoming elections, both financially and at the grassroots level. Through President Doyle’s and BIAW leaders’ efforts, 11 local associations pledged over $500,000 for the upcoming election cycle. This much needed money will help BIAW’s efforts to elect Dino Rossi, who announced his candidacy for governor late in 2007. BIAW was the first trade association in the state to endorse Rossi.” ["2007 Annual Report," BIAW]

Rossi Backed Extreme BIAW Agenda “99 percent of the time.” “The BIAW says Rossi backed its legislation an astounding 99 percent of the time in his seven years in the state Senate. In the same period, Rossi only voted for legislation backed by the Washington Conservation Voters 36 percent of the time. The environmental group has endorsed Gregoire.” [Seattle Weekly, 10/13/2004]

Rossi Critical of State’s Growth Management Act (GMA)

“Growth Management Act: Both (Rossi and opponent David Irons) find fault with the statewide land-use legislation that, since its 1990 enactment, aims to keep new development in urban areas to preserve agricultural and rural lands. ’Whenever you have an imaginary boundary line, where everything goes on one side and nothing goes on the other, then both sides are going to be upset,’ Rossi said.” [Seattle Times, 9/15/96]

Rossi Takes Thousands in Campaign Contributions from Company that Tried to Dodge Responsibility for Chemical Spill

Major Rossi supporter Oak Harbor Freight Lines was fined $61,020 in 2005 for neglecting to notify emergency officials after one of their trucks overturned on Interstate 5 and spilled five hundred gallons of herbicide. The owners of Oak Harbor Freight Lines have donated over $16,000 to Rossi’s gubernatorial bids and also contribute heavily to the BIAW’s political action committees. [Associated Press, 12/1/2005] [Washington State Public Disclosure Commission]

Rossi Voted Against Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Recognizing the Threat of Climate Change, and Making Washington a Leader in Clean Energy Consumption

Rossi Opposed Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by State Government. SB 6718 mandated that “State government adopt a policy to meet its energy needs with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.” Rossi voted “Do not pass.” [SB 6718, 2/12/02, Rossi – Do not pass]

Rossi Opposed Recognizing the Threat of Climate Change. SB 6718 found that “State government actions to promote and use clean energy are consistent with the state’s environmental commitments, including addressing the increasingly imminent dangers to Washington’s qualities of life that are threatened by global climate changes and improving local and regional air quality.” Rossi voted “Do not pass.” [SB 6718, 2/12/02, Rossi – Do not pass]

Rossi Opposed Making Washington State Government a Leader in Clean Energy Consumption. SB 6718 found that “As a significant consumer of energy resources and a committed steward of public health and environmental quality, Washington state government is well-positioned to be a leader in promoting and using clean energy.” Rossi voted “Do not pass.” [SB 6718, 2/12/02, Rossi – Do not pass]

Rossi Slashed Environmental Cleanup Funding

The same month that a state agency warned against high levels of mercury in bass caught in Washington lakes, Rossi eliminated funding for the program responsible for the discovery. The program, which Rossi cut in his role as the Senate budget leader, aimed to rid the state of persistent toxic chemicals like dioxin, mercury, and PCBs. "It's ironic that in the same month the Health Department issues this advisory, the Legislature completely eliminated funding for fish-tissue monitoring," Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, environmental advocate for the non-partisan Washington Public Interest Research Group said at the time, adding "It's extremely troubling." According to the Seattle times “Ecology's findings grew out of the department's persistent bioaccumulative toxins strategy. PBTs, as they are called, are long-lasting, toxic substances or chemicals that can build up in humans and other animals.” [Proposed Senate 2003-05 Operating Budget Highlights; Seattle Times, 6/21/04]

Rossi Tried to Block Legislation Outlawing Mercury Dumping in Washington State

While on the Senate Ways and Means committee Rossi voted against a bill requiring that “A person may not knowingly dispose of mercury-added products in any manner other than by recycling the product or disposing of the product as hazardous waste.” The bill provided common-sense exemptions and did not “…apply to individuals disposing of mercury-added household products.” The legislation directed the Department of Ecology to “develop a plan and proposed budget for a comprehensive [mercury] public education, outreach, and assistance program.” The plan included “(a) Identifying current mercury uses in Washington; (b) analyzing current state and federal laws, regulations, rules, and voluntary measures that can be used to reduce or eliminate mercury and mercury-added products; (c) identifying mercury reduction and elimination options for mercury-added products; and (d) implementing actions to reduce or eliminate mercury uses and releases.” [SB 6533, Rossi – Do not pass, 2/12/02]

Rossi Sat on Hands Instead of Voting to Protect Children From Toxic Chemicals

Rossi claims that “I am going to do everything I can to protect the most vulnerable people in our society,” but he refused to even vote on a bill creating the Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council. The council would have met several times a year to “Review and comment on existing laws, rules, regulations, and standards to ensure that they adequately protect the health of children from environmental hazards.” The legislation also recognized that “…children in the state face many preventable exposures to environmental hazards in their schools, homes, and communities. In certain cases children are at greater risk than adults for exposure to and possible illness from environmental hazards…The legislature further finds that higher rates of poverty place children of ethnic and minority communities at disproportionate risk for environmental exposures due to inadequate housing, poor nutrition, and limited access to health care.” Four days later, in the face of overwhelming support for the bill, Rossi bucked and voted yes on the exact same legislation. [SB 6356, Rossi – Not voting, 2/12/02; SB 6356, Rossi – Yea, 2/16/02; Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, 1/3/2008]

Rossi Tried to Reduce Protection for Clean Rivers and Streams

Rossi voted for a bill that stripped the Department of Ecology of its authority to limit water withdrawals from a stream even when those withdrawals would leave the water remaining in a stream in violation of water quality standards. According to the Associated Press, “Opponents - mostly environmentalists, Indian tribes and others concerned about salmon recovery - oppose the bill as a giveaway to irrigators.” [SB 5028, 6/5/03, 3/13/03; AP, 6/6/03]

Rossi Sided with George Bush and Against Washington State Citizens

While the Bush Administration was rolling back important environmental standards, Rossi voted to limit Washington’s ability to set standards exceeding federal limits. The legislation Rossi supported required that “…no agency may adopt a rule that exceeds a federal standard without specific legislative authority.” [SB 5053, 3/18/03; Seattle Times, 12/29/02; Associated Press, 2/20/02]