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Former NJ Governors Led by Christie Whitman Unite to Push Environmental Initiatives in Washington

Christine Todd Whitman
April 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , not sure weather to laugh or cry . Are we the only one that sees any irony in this? In what cant best to described as a collection of failed politicians with terrible environmental records ,or perhaps its a desperate attempt to remain relevant , a bi-partisan group of former New Jersey elected officials on Tuedsay announced that, despite differences in politics, they were joining together to push environmental advocacy issues in Washington, D.C. The group which includes former Governors Tom Kean (R), Christie Whitman (R), Jim Florio (D) and Brendan Byrne (D), as well as former Democratic Congressman Rush Holt and former NJ Assemblywoman Maureen Ogden (R) wants New Jersey’s current congressional delegation to fight to protect public land, water, air and wildlife.

In an air “its my party too” the former New Jersey elected officials on Tuesday released the “Principles to Protect our Public Lands, Water, Air and Wildlife.” Those principles claim that environmental protections are “fundamental to the economic success and vitality” of both the state and the nation, that the environment is fundamental to health/well-being, and that “environmental protection must remain a bipartisan matter.” In their letter the officials also call for support of environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and Wilderness Act and Antiquities Act. Additionally, they push for protection of public land, promoting renewable energy, an acknowledgement of climate change and demand that “all federal agencies, policies and laws be grounded in sound science.”

This all from the women former governor Christie Whitman , who most notable contribution to environmental protection was misguidedly telling workers at Ground Zero the air was OK , when breathing it turned out to lead to health problems and for some death.

Considering New Jersey’s air is regularly ranked as among worst in U.S. by clean-air group the American Ling Association. In a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2011 New Jersey ranked as the 18th most polluted state in the USA. Also in 2011 was 5th least “green” state in the nation by a 24/7 Wall St. analysis of environmental issues facing the 50 state.  In 2017 New Jersey education officials said 21 school districts have reported elevated levels of lead in drinking water and of coarse you do not want to forget about chromium-6 in the drinking water . The state of New Jersey also came in with the most EPA Superfund sites at 116.

Seems rather bold for any New Jersey politician to criticize anyone on the environment particular Whitman.