As the changing climate is being used as an excuse for authoritarian collectivism I keep an eye on the progression of eco-tyranny here in Kansas City. We certainly have not been spared. Kansas City recently adopted a new Climate Protection Plan that is a typical bloated mandate of higher taxes, greater regulation, make-work programs and forced compliance. Now we’re facing increased involvement by the Federal Government, at the request of council members.

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News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.

http://www.kcmo.org

CONTACT: Mary Charles, city communications officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 10, 2008

Councilmembers join call for federal investment in local ‘green’ programs

Eleven members of the City of Kansas City, Mo., City Council and Mayor Mark Funkhouser are joining a national coalition of elected local government officials to push for federal investment in local climate action to create new green jobs, revitalize the economy and promote energy independence.

“We want the new administration to know that with federal assistance we are ready to put Kansas City residents to work in jobs that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions.” said Councilwoman Cindy Circo, 5th District.

The Councilmembers, along with more than 340 local government elected officials, joined Climate Communities and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability to endorse “Empowering Local Government Climate Action: Blueprint for the New President and 111th Congress.”

“Supporting local government action should be a top priority as Washington develops new economic stimulus, climate and energy policies,” said Councilman John Sharp, 6th District. “Local governments are dramatically affected when our communities suffer human and economic loss from floods, water shortages and other climate events.”

Currently there are no federal programs to support local climate and energy initiatives. The local government climate action blueprint calls for stimulus legislation to include:

- $2 billion annually for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program (68 percent of which would be direct funding to local government)

- Funding the Green Jobs Act of 2007 at $125 million annually to support worker training in emerging manufacturing and hi-tech sector green collar jobs

- $400 million annually for the Clean Cities program to support low-emission vehicles and cleaner fuels, including alternative fuel infrastructure and plug-in hybrid vehicles

- $100 million annually for the Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program

- Investment in public transit, green vehicles and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction

- $250 million annually for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Local Climate Demonstration Grants that empower local governments to continue creating new solutions to the climate challenge.

In commenting on the endorsement of the blueprint, Councilwoman Jan Marcason, 4th District, noted the leadership involved in the City’s adoption of Climate Protection Plan, Green Solutions Policy and the integration of green solutions into the new sewer overflow control plan.

Councilmembers who signed on to the blueprint, include: Deb Hermann and Bill Skaggs, 1st District, Ed Ford and Russ Johnson, 2nd District, Melba Curls, 3rd District, Beth Gottstein and Marcason, 4th District, Circo and Terry Riley, 5th District, and Cathy Jolly and Sharp, 6th District.

Media inquiries and requests for more information should be directed to Dennis Murphey, chief environmental officer, (816) 513-3459.

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Green collar jobs?

The Federal Government is a drug. An addictive deleterious narcotic. As Kansas City increases its dependence so increases the pain of withdrawal and willingness to submit. If Kansas Citians want to try to make the city a greener place they can do so on their own. They need not kneel.

Paul Cook

This entry was posted on Monday, December 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am and is filed under Kansas City, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.