Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie
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State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie represents Illinois’ 25th District, which borders Lake Michigan on the south side of Chicago. In her 28 years in the Legislature, she has helped advance many of Illinois’ most significant environmental protections.
In her current role as House Majority Leader and chairperson of the powerful House Rules Committee, Rep. Currie will have a central role in setting and moving the Legislature’s agenda in 2007.
Is Illinois a leader among states on environmental issues?
Well, we’re not lagging behind most states,but nor, sadly, are we leading on most fronts. What we tend to see in Illinois is incremental step-by-step progress in protecting the environment. We have made important steps forward of late, such as the governor’s decision to make utilities decrease their mercury emissions. The federal timetable for mercury reductions is ridiculously slow and the governor and [Illinois EPA Director] Doug Scott have done a great job improving that timetable through the mercury rule.
But on other issues we haven’t gotten as serious as other states. California, for example, has reduced emissions from automobiles, and we haven’t. I’d also like to see us do more on alternative energy and open space acquisition, where we’ve fallen behind nearby states.
Do the state’s recent election results improve the prospects of environmental initiatives?
What we got out of the state election is what we’ve had all along: Democratically controlled chambers and a Democrat in the governor’s office.
What certainly has changed lately is the level of awareness about the health impact of environmental policies, particularly items like the quality of the air children breathe and the emissions that cause global warming.
My hope is that increased awareness will translate to legislative leadership on environmental issues in Illinois.
Global warming is an issue for which public awareness has grown. Do you think this is the year for progress on this issue?
Global warming is real. It’s happening. But most policy-makers have known this for years. If anything is different now, it’s that awareness among the public is at an all-time high, so perhaps now is the time to advance initiatives to reduce global warming pollution. The question is: Will we take advantage of it?
I’d like to see Illinois reduce automobile emissions as California has done. Illinois is a major market for cars. If manufacturers have to make cars more efficient for Illinois, they might find it economical to do the same nationwide.
Illinois has been a leader in reducing toxic chemical exposure. But many people think we need a more comprehensive policy to identify and restrict dangerous chemicals before they come to market. What do you think?
I completely agree that some sort of precautionary, preventive chemical policy makes sense. It’s not sensible to wait to restrict a chemical until it’s already on the market and hurting people.
Will you support the Great Lakes Compact?
The Great Lakes are magnificent and the envy of other states not fortunate enough to have them. There’s concern that some states want to gain access to our water. The Compact is a very good idea. |
