The Huffington Post: on Environment

Antonio Villaraigosa: Added 669 acres of open space & 1,549 miles of bikeways

• 20% of energy coming from renewable sources
• 75% increase in recycling
• adding 669 acres of open space
• adding 1,549 miles of bikeways
• installing LED streetlights
• reducing port emissions.

Bill Bryant: OpEd: Claims conservationism, but enabled Arctic drilling

So why would they support Shell's arctic aspirations? Money, of course. The five commissioners all were recipients of gifts from oil companies or the company handling Shell's port in Seattle.

One can argue that all supporters of a port commissioner's campaign would naturally be the port's customers. But in hyper-green Seattle, all won their elections to some degree on their pro-environmental positions. Topping the list of hypocrites, Bill Bryant ran on the claim that "I am a committed conservationist."

He's also running for governor, so he needs the cash. And I guess he figures the electorate has short memories.

Rand Paul: Hurricane Sandy relief ads were conflict of interest

Though Paul did not address Christie by name, he railed against funding campaigns in New Jersey that heavily featured political candidates: "Some of these ads, people who are running for office put their mug all over the ads while they're in the middle of a political campaign," Paul said, adding that this could create "a conflict of interest," upsetting taxpayers who expect their dollars to be spent otherwise.

Christie appeared with his family in an ad encouraging people to visit the Jersey Shore over the summer. Paul was among 36 Senate Republicans to vote against a $50.5 billion Hurricane Sandy relief bill last year, later accusing Christie of "bankrupting the government."

Rick Scott: Lay off DEP staff; environmental compliance & no enforcement

The Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility (PEER) issued a statement that the DEP collected 70% less in fines from violators in 2012, and the agency opened half as many environmental investigations as it did the year before.

PEER says Scott advised DEP staff to restrain from pursuing enforcement and laid off staff responsible for enforcing the state's environmental standards. PEER also released an internal DEP memo in which the deputy secretary advises directors to focus on compliance without enforcement. Meanwhile, the DEP says the lower enforcement numbers are merely a consequence of more Florida industries operating within safe environmental standards.

Russell Feingold: Clean Water Restoration Act to protect streams and wetlands

As a Great Lakes senator, Feingold showed particular leadership of water issues. Year after year, Feingold sponsored the Clean Water Restoration Act, to preserve Clean Water Act protections for millions of miles and acres of streams and wetlands. It's the same issue that President Obama addressed with a new clean-water rule just this week, a rule that the Senate will likely try to kill soon. So far, [Feingold's opponent] Sen. Ron Johnson hasn't added his name as a cosponsor, but he's expressed concerns about the rule, and this may soon provide a stark policy contrast between the two Wisconsin politicians.

Tom Vilsack: Cut food waste in half by 2030

These steps by regulators are in important piece of the puzzle, but consumers have an important role to play in this global problem. Will a new Ad Council campaign, "Save the Food," help shift perspectives? Will the national goal set by the federal government's top health and environmental agencies motivate consumers? Do consumers need clear directions from policymakers and legislation (also known as landfill bans, municipal composting requirements, date labeling standardization) to force change?