In what many call blatant government overreach, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey banned single-use plastic bottles.
Healey’s ban follows the ill-advised gun ban by New Mexico’s Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Grisham’s ban was rejected by the citizenry, local law enforcement agencies and a federal judge. Republicans are currently moving to impeach the embattled governor.
Massachusetts’ Healey announced her ban by saying, “In government, we have an obligation to stop contributing to this damage and chart a better path forward,” according to the Boston Globe.
The governor added: “So we are proud to become the first state to adopt a procurement ban on single-use plastic bottles.”
Healey’s decision was hailed by participants at the Clinton Global Initiative conference. In recognition of New York’s “Climate Week” Healey was invited to be a conference speaker and to share that she would be signing an executive order later this week banning state agencies from purchasing single-use plastic bottles,” according to Fox News.
The governor said the plan is intended to help protect oceans and the climate.
Healey said in her keynote address to Clinton Global Initiative participants:
“We know that plastic waste, plastic production are among the leading threats to our oceans, our climate and environmental justice. In government, we have an obligation – we also have an opportunity – to not only stop contributing to this damage but to chart a better path forward.
“In our coastal state, we know climate change is our biggest threat. We also believe that taking action is our greatest opportunity, an opportunity to secure a safe, prosperous, and sustainable future.”
NBC Boston reported that Massachusetts will become the first in the nation to issue such a ban.
Healey, who has served as governor for less than a year, has instructed state agencies to organize biodiversity conservation goals for 2030, 2040 and 2050.
The governor is expected to sign the executive order, which will take effect immediately, this Thursday.
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