House Democrats lobby GOP to drop styrofoam cups
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Republican leaders say they're searching everywhere for ways to save a buck -- including the congressional cafeteria. But House Democrats say they've gone too far.
A group of House Democrats plan to send House Speaker John Boehner a letter this week urging him to reverse the new Republican majority's decision to use styrofoam cups in the House cafeteria. While the GOP said the move was a cost-saving measure, Democrats say styrofoam presents health and environmental hazards. They also argue that the GOP's "un-greening" is ultimately more costly.
Last week, in the short-term budget bill passed by Congress, the House eliminated the "Green the Capitol" initiative launched by former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi. That meant replacing the House cafeteria's recyclable cups with the most cost-effective option -- styrofoam.
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Administration Committee, says he is considering more environmentally-friendly, long term solutions like washable metal utensils, the Washington Post reported. But in the meantime, Lungren pointed out that the cafeteria dinnerware composting program cost about $475,000 annually and had only small environmental benefits.
In the letter Democrats plan to send to Boehner this week, they urge the speaker to consider the negative external costs of the switch, like the health and environmental risks, as well as costs associated with waste removal.
"These external costs should be considered in making the decision for cafeteria products; the desire to save a few pennies should never come at the expense of jeopardizing staff, members and visitors' health," the letter says. "Over 20 years ago, McDonalds and other fast food restaurants replaced polystyrene foam with recyclable and paperboard containers... Adopting the same standard is the least we can do."
The Democrats point out that the cafeteria generates profits for the House ($879,000 in 2010), which they think should be used to offset costs like composting.
"The irresponsibility of the decision to use polystyrene foam without considering other options is all the more egregious because the cafeteria is not merely used by House members and our staffers," the letter says. "The health of constituents and visitors to the Hill who eat in the cafeteria will be impacted by this short-sighted decision."
So far, at least 31 House Democrats have signed onto the letter. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-N.Y.), who is spearheading the effort, says that eliminating the entire "Green the Capitol" program comes at a 10-year cost of $50 million to taxpayers. Besides recyclable cafeteria flatware, the program included initiatives like recycling office paper, water use reduction, computer power management and installing more-efficient light bulbs.
Blumenauer said in a statement last week that styrofoam cups was just the beginning.
"It turns out that Republicans are wasting a small fortune that taxpayers would otherwise save in order to 'ungreen' the Capitol," he said. "This is the definition of government waste, yet it is coming from a Republican majority that cannot stop talking about cutting deficits."
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Blumenauer is a bicycle believer, and does not mind spending your money to prove it.
As for that profit the House cafeteria earns, it should go to reduce the debt.
Has congress never met a dollar it did not want to spend?
One has to wonder what has happened in our country. With real threats to our middle class, our working men and women and our national debt piling up, we get news about styrofoam cups?
Just last Tuesday, Republicans voted UNANIMOUSLY against a Democrat proposal to eliminate over $40 Billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies to five of the largest oil companies. Why? To protect their huge campaign contributions from big oil.
After you correct this, which I consider criminal, then it would be perfectly fine to spend your time debating styrofoam.
This nation is more than $14 trillion in debt, and we are projected to add another $1.65 trillion in deficit spending this year. This is total nonsense! The press is celebrating the fact that unemployment dropped to 8.9% - this is a terrible rate of unemployment. We have serious situations going on in the middle-east. We have China using the interest money that we are paying them on our stupid loans to build up a massive military. Why would they do that?? Should we be concerned? Rouge states like Iran and North Korea are becoming nuclear capable and are building missiles that will reach long distances.
AND THESE IRRESPONSIBLE IDIOTS HAVE A FOCUS ON STYROFOAM COFFEE CUPS?????
If this was something portrayed on SNL, it would be funny. I am not laughing - this is a pitiful excuse for representation on a national level.
Please observe them planning to waste 50million in tax dollars for a few cheap political swipes.
As I said before, the Republicans would rather take a flame thrower to the country than allow Obama a reasonable political Legacy.
What is really stupid, however, is when people use silly news stories like this to imply that somehow the dems or repubs have somehow been reduced to dealing with trivial matters. Says more about you and the media than it does Congress.
And for what it is worth, at my company we bring our own coffee mugs in. We fill it, we drink it, we wash it. Cheap. Surprised Congress cant do the same.