en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent Policy headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 A curious debate has broken out among American environmental groups, as the Senate balkily starts to focus on the threat of climate change. Is this really the time to talk about shrinking glaciers? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110502134.html Cap and Trade Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Environment Green Jobs Policy Pollution & Toxics United States 11/06/2009 Washington Post Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee pushed through a climate bill on Thursday without any debate or participation by Republicans. The move suggests that President Obama and bill supporters will have serious problems assembling the votes needed to enact it when it comes to the Senate floor, probably not before next year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/us/politics/06climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Cap and Trade Climate Energy Environment Food & Farms Policy Pollution & Toxics United States 11/05/2009 New York Times The Obama administration and the region’s federal dam managers are pinning their hopes to the scientific reputation of Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a marine ecologist from Oregon State University. And it’s a good call. http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2009/11/05/rockybarker/scientist_courtroom Energy Environment Policy Salmon Water US Northwest 11/05/2009 Idaho Statesman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., was the only Democrat on Thursday to vote against a climate change bill that Democrats rammed through a Senate committee - but said he still supports the effort to limit greenhouse gases and pass a bill. http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_ac65255c-ca99-11de-847e-001cc4c03286.html Cap and Trade Climate Energy Environment Policy Pollution & Toxics Montana United States 11/06/2009 Missoulian Supporters of gay rights were buoyed by first-day returns that showed Referendum 71 leading by a narrow margin Tuesday evening. The trends looked positive for the measure, which would expand Washington's domestic-partnership law. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010196421_elexref7104m.html Policy Population Washington 11/04/2009 Seattle Times In Boise, a proposed $60 million trolley plan became a major theme of local elections Tuesday but also represents an American revival. Some 80 US cities have proposals for streetcars, which they hope will become engines for prosperity that will reduce congestion and air pollution by turning back the clock. http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/959921.html Climate Environment Policy Sprawl & Transportation Idaho Oregon 11/03/2009 Boise Idaho Statesman More than 10,000 children have been added to the state health plan under a new law aimed at expanding health insurance coverage to nearly every child in Oregon, officials said Tuesday. http://gazettetimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_c41fe2cd-681c-5aab-bcbb-47268c6c79cc.html Human Health Policy Oregon 11/03/2009 Corvallis Gazette-Times Oregon energy officials released new rules Tuesday aimed at curbing a controversial state program that grants lucrative tax subsidies for wind, solar and other renewable power plants. The changes are intended to rein in some of the runaway costs of the program. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/oregon_curbs_controversial_tax.html Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Environment Green Business Policy Oregon 11/03/2009 Oregonian Tim Eyman's latest effort to mess with government, Initiative 1033, seems to have gone down in flames. Eyman's initiative reached beyond state government and deep into local courthouses and city halls, close enough for many people in small towns to see very clearly that Eyman's usual one-size-fits-all approach was not going to fit their communities, not at all. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2010195808_initiative_1033s_fatal_flaw.html?syndication=rss Economy Policy Washington 11/04/2009 Seattle Times