Bill blocks Texas cities from regulating pollution

Bill blocks Texas cities from regulating pollution

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4765679.html

Associated Press


AUSTIN — The Texas Senate tentatively approved a bill prohibiting cities from regulating air pollution coming from outside their boundaries despite a senator's brief threat to filibuster the measure.

Houston Mayor Bill White and the City Council have been debating a plan that would allow Houston to fine any industrial plant in the area found contributing to unhealthy concentrations of certain pollutants inside the city.

The bill by Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, would make it illegal for any municipality to enact an ordinance that could be used beyond its borders. The legislation bars municipalities from using a nuisance ordinance to crack down on air pollution from outside their boundaries.

Sen. Mario Gallegos opposed the bill, saying cities need to be able to keep their residents safe from pollutants if the Legislature isn't going to crack down on the plants that contaminate the air.

Gallegos, a Democrat from Houston who recently underwent a liver transplant, railed about the proposal for about an hour before a Republican senator asked him if he was filibustering it.

He said he was, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst began laying out the rules for a filibuster. But after a brief break, Gallegos spoke for just 11 minutes before allowing the vote to proceed.

The measure was tentatively approved 20-11 along party lines. It could receive final approval as early as Wednesday.