Sanders Vows to Create National Clean Drinking Water Standards to End Corporate Contamination

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

"Corporate greed is threatening one of the most basic necessities of life: clean water," Sanders said in a statement to the Associated Press. "Not only will we support state efforts to enforce stronger clean water laws, we are going to create federal clean water standards that force these companies to clean up their mess."

Sanders, one of the leading contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, told AP that his national standards would target perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as well as other hazardous chemicals.

The goal of the standards, Sanders said, would be to guarantee clean drinking water "as a human right."

The Vermont senator's pledge comes as states across the nation, from New Jersey to Michigan to New Hampshire, are battling drinking water crises due to outdated pipes, corporate pollution, and other factors.

(snip)

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/31/sanders-vows-create-national-clean-drinking-water-standards-end-corporate

[Joe941]

1. Another brilliant idea from bernie!

This is leadership.

[TexasTowelie]

5. No it isn't.

There is already a national clean drinking water act so Bernie isn't creating anything new.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

38. Yeah, ask the people of Flint all about it.

[TexasTowelie]

41. The enforcement of the law sucked,

but the clean water act existed. Just because a piece of legislation becomes law doesn't mean that there aren't forces that will thwart the implementation, deny appropriations, or cripple enforcement of that legislation.

Bernie couldn't get this law passed when he was a Congressman or a Senator and he has been in Congress for decades. Why am I supposed to believe that he will wag his finger and his utopia will be realized?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

58. Who didn't enforce the law?

Maybe we should ask that question. See for dates:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis

[TexasTowelie]

59. I already knew that Republican officials were the culprits.

Show me what Bernie's proposal would have done if the same team of state officials were in charge. I doubt that there would be any substantial difference in the outcome.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

13. You can say that again Joe! Like you, most people recognize Bernie's brilliance...

which is why he's doing so well in the polls. This latest idea is WAY overdue and, the greatest thing about Bernie's ideas is that WE THE PEOPLE CAN TRUST THAT HE'LL ACTUALLY CARRY THROUGH WITH HIS PROMISES TO GET SOMETHING DONE AFTER THE ELECTION IS OVER!! THAT'S THE BERNIE WE KNOW AND LOVE!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[myohmy2]

49. ...absolutely...

...TRUE leadership...

...clean water is a necessity of life...

...time to get serious...

[George II]

2. How does he intend on doing that, and what will it cost?

[Uncle Joe]

3. Should Bernie win the Presidency, he's

going to have you lobby Congress for it because he knows your passion for clean drinking water for the American People runs deep.

[George II]

6. Great idea! At least that way it'll get done.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I knew one day that you would feel the Bern!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

14. Everybody does eventually... it's only a matter of time!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[TexasTowelie]

19. I feel the Bern out.

Everybody does eventually... it's only a matter of time!!

[lapucelle]

54. Much of the world has felt the effects of the bern for the last few years. N/T

[The Valley Below]

55. Scorched earth.

[lapucelle]

52. How long have you been feeling the effects of the bern, George? N/T

[George II]

53. Hmmm.........

[I_UndergroundPanther]

45. Yes!

Don't let centrism blind you to what can be.

[David__77]

37. Here's CBO estimate of other legislation pertaining to PFAS.

https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2019-11/s1507_1.pdf

I assume that enforcement would be via Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) enforcement provisions.

[George II]

39. That's not what he said. He said:

"...support state efforts to enforce stronger clean water laws" (new laws)

"...create federal clean water standards" (new laws)

[David__77]

40. I don't interpret "new standards" to mean "new laws."

Sometimes, standards can be applied within the regulatory structure afforded by existing laws. For instance, changing new building energy code doesn't necessarily require new law to be passed - some regulatory body empowered to do so can sometimes modify the prevailing standard.

In any event, it seems that this applies to creation and application of standards to PFAS.

[TexasTowelie]

4. We already have national clean drinking water standards.

Background on Drinking Water Standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Summary of SDWA Related to Contaminants:

• Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 and amended and reauthorized it in 1986 and 1996.

---Main federal law that ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water
---Authorizes EPA to set national standards for drinking water to protect against health effects from exposure to naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants

• Drinking water standards only apply to public water systems (not individual private wells).
• EPA works with states, localities, and water suppliers who carry out these standards.

Drinking Water Standards Apply to Public Water Systems:

• Public water systems are those having at least 15 service connections or serve at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year.
• Over 150,000 public water systems across the U.S. serve more than 300 million people.

https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/background-drinking-water-standards-safe-drinking-water-act-sdwa

So essentially, Bernie isn't creating anything new. The best can be said is that he is expanding the scope of the SDWA to include the delivery systems for safe water.

[George II]

7. Oh maaaaaan! You ruined it.

[TexasTowelie]

10. I'm such a Debbie-downer.

And on the seventh day Bernie ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Bernie's clean water standards proposals are higher than what's on the books now. n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

15. Since when do facts matter when there's an opportunity to bash Bernie?!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[TheFarseer]

17. I know

Suddenly people are against clean water just because Bernie is for it - brilliant

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

18. It would be funny if it wasnt so divisive...some cant find even ONE good thing to say about Bernie!

Even though Joe has fallen into last place among the current and past Democratic candidates on my list, I STILL can find some things to compliment Joe on when he's right... not so with some here when it comes to Bernie.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[TexasTowelie]

20. But he isn't creating anything

which means the headline from Common Dreams is a lie.

[Uncle Joe]

21. False, Bernie is creating new clean water standards. n/t

[TexasTowelie]

22. Bernie isn't creating anything.

He has served in Congress for decades and he couldn't create new clean water standards. He won't be president so he won't be creating anything in the future either.

[Uncle Joe]

23. Corporations that pollute our water will have to clean up their mess too. n/t

[TexasTowelie]

27. Corporations are already cleaning up the water that they pollute

and if they don't clean it up then they have to pay the EPA and other agencies to do it.

Nothing new from Bernie.

But Bernie has been in Congress for decades, so what has he done to fix the issue in the meantime? He hasn't passed one piece of legislation in this area.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. He got some post offices named, though.

[boomer_wv]

25. You mean like

Updating the rules...like happens all the time?

What he going to do next?

Free the slaves, get nukes out of Cuba, bring down the Berlin wall?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. Agencies update rules; presidents don't.

I assume any Democratic president would appoint an EPA administrator who would favor actually protecting the environment. The EPA would propose rules for public comment pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act; then, if the rules meet the standards for notice, hearing and legal cost-benefit analyses, it would approve those rules.

[Uncle Joe]

29. "All the time?"

(snip)

Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 and amended and reauthorized it in 1986 and 1996.
Main federal law that ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water

(snip)

https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/background-drinking-water-standards-safe-drinking-water-act-sdwa

It may not be glamorous to you but clean drinking water is important to the American People and of critical concern to some distressed communities in our nation.

[boomer_wv]

30. Those are amendments

The legislation does not spell out specific limits, the EPA is chiefly given authority to interpret the law and make rules in pursuit of it. And yes, they change pretty often.

[NYMinute]

12. Next, Sanders will invent an electric car

and the faithful would eat it up.

[David__77]

35. This pertains to specific substances: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)

Presently, there are no federal standards pertaining to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6455940/ and http://www.wqa.org/learn-about-water/water-q-a/pfas).

I think the headline is correct in that Sanders proposes to create new standards. I don't think it should be interpreted to mean that there are presently no standards.

[TexasTowelie]

42. It doesn't matter.

Bernie isn't going to be president.

[David__77]

43. I get your perspective.

It definitely matters as much or little as one says it matters.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

46. Bernie would be good for this right tilted country.

Stop thinking inside the box.

[TexasTowelie]

47. No he wouldn't

and stop telling me how to think.

[paleotn]

51. That obviously aren't working

Maybe it’s time to start anew. In the mean time, have a contaminated drink on me.

[TexasTowelie]

56. What a wonderful thought to start the new year.

It's difficult for me to imagine that you actually care about anyone when you convey a message of hatred.

The problem is that the laws currently on the books aren't being enforced. I don't see how anything is going to change even if Bernie's proposal is adopted into law;

Happy new year and have a drink on me. I guarantee that it is safe.

[paleotn]

57. Excuse me?

A little sarcasm is hatred now? That's precisely why I rarely venture into the cesspool of DU primary forums. Of course, all candidates are for improving or replacing a system that +++obviously+++ doesn't work. It seems if Warren, Bernie, Biden or anyone else said the sky was blue and that was good, many here would attack them. Not that the sky isn't blue or that that''s a good thing, but because someone they don't like said it. Capeesh?

[TexasTowelie]

60. It's what you wrote and I didn't take it very kindly.

Instead of claiming it is sarcasm, perhaps "I apologize" would get a better response and I would be more willing to consider your condescending point of view. Have a good day.

[paleotn]

62. I don't apologize for sarcasm when well placed.

And that's exactly what it is and well placed in my opinion. How can any of us attack Bernie for advocating for clean water of all things? There's plenty to complain about with Bernie, but clean water? Sheesh! Again if Biden, Bernie, Warren, et al. were to say the clear sky is blue, many here would find offense. Not because the open sky isn't blue, but because they don't like the candidate who said it.

[TexasTowelie]

63. Like I said,

why would I consider anything that you said when you were so hateful? Your style of writing is not persuasive and your sarcasm isn't funny.

[paleotn]

65. Yes, I know my sarcasm is funny.

See! You said so yourself. And I'm not being hateful. I'm just tired...sick and f'ing tired of Dems attacking Dems over silly stuff that doesn't matter, while a madman has taken over the White House.

[TexasTowelie]

66. Thanks, I edited my previous reply.

Your sarcasm isn't funny. Welcome to ignore.

[NYMinute]

9. ...

[beastie boy]

16. Why is bernie holding off on creating daylight savings time? Like Franklin's only more progressive!

Now THAT would be leadership!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. Why hasn't he promised to fix the potholes in my street?

[napi21]

24. We already have laws, but the penalties are so low, the offenders keep poluting & paying the fines.

I live about 1/4 mile from a beautiful big manmade lake in Ga. It's the drinking water supply for Ga and part of Fl. There was an article in the paper about 1 month ago about all the pollution being dumped in it, the major polluters, and the fines. The fines are a few hudred
dollars & correcting the problem would cost each business a LOT MORE than that, so they just pay it and keep going. Army Corps of Engineers are in charge of the Lake & the Dam.

I sent a scathing letter to my State rep & Senator AGAIN, asking them to increase the $$ fines to a painful level to force compliance. I'm not eagerly anticipating any action though.

Same thing happens with Fed. Laws. They're just ignored.

[betsuni]

32. And in a few months we will hear this:

Bernie: "The idea that I brought forth, clean drinking water as a human right, it was a radical idea: 'Oh Bernie, that's too extreme! Nobody in America wants clean drinking water, it can't be done!' Well, now it's a mainstream issue. A lot of people now understand it is an outrage. The last poll I saw, 80 percent of Americans agree with me that clean water is a human right and not a privilege. We've moved the debate. We're going to take on corporate greed and the Democratic Establishment."

Interviewer: "How will you force companies to 'clean up their mess'?

Bernie: "Rallies."

I will bet cash money this happens.

[David__77]

34. This pertains to specific substances: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)

Presently, there are no federal standards pertaining to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6455940/ and http://www.wqa.org/learn-about-water/water-q-a/pfas).

I think the headline is correct in that Sanders proposes to create new standards. I don't think it should be interpreted to mean that there are presently no standards.

[Uncle Joe]

36. That was my take on it David.

[David__77]

44. I do find it interesting that what strikes me as a benign water quality post garners many responses.

It's a good thing.

[booley]

48. would this affect Native reservations?

Apparently their water is even orse and has been for years.

[comradebillyboy]

50. Nixon already did it back in 1974.

[treestar]

61. Can a President do that alone or would they need Congress?

That would be the question.

[paleotn]

64. That dastardly Bernie! Advocating for clean water of all things. How could he?

I suppose he's just wicked like that.

Can you people actually here yourselves? Or is this 2016 all over again? These particular attacks on Bernie in this thread, who I don't support by the way, are a microcosm of the inanity this primary is devolving into. You're attacking a candidate for advocating for something every single, solitary American with half a cerebral cortex should support. How to get there is up for debate, but to dismiss it out of hand simply because Bernie said it? Sheesh!