Fall Elections: Ask your Candidates about Toxic Chemicals

This post originally published at Safer States

It's election season. And you know what that means: phone calls, door knocks, commercials and pieces of mail requesting your support for a particular candidate. How do you know which candidate should receive your vote?

Our candidates need to hear that toxics legislation is important, and that you will be taking that into consideration when you cast your ballot. One of the most important things that a candidate can do is commit to protecting our families from harmful chemicals.

And here's a great secret: new research has shown that there is overwhelming support for toxic chemical reform across the aisle. In a Mellman Group study shows that 74% of the public supports stronger controls on toxic chemicals. This issue clearly crosses political party lines.

Here are a few questions to consider asking this fall.

Ask your local candidates: What will you do on the city level to help protect our families from toxic chemicals?

City and municipal governments have leverage with local budgets, city buildings, and local bans that can make huge differences in our lives.

The city of Phoenix, Arizona has a "Low Environmental Impact Cleaning Policy" which means that city-owned facilities strive to use cleaning products, materials and equipment that meet green standards. Long before many states passed Bisphenol-A (BPA) bans, the city of Chicago passed a ban on BPA. San Francisco became the first city to ban plastic shopping bags which contain toxic chemicals and pollute the environment. 

Strong leadership on the local level makes an enormous difference to toxic chemical use in our lives.

Ask your state candidates: Will you help our state take action against the worst of the worst chemicals?

Many states are moving toward a system which identifies the worst of the worst chemicals (like BPA, lead, mercury and some flame retardants) and works to ban them or identify safer alternatives. However, there are many states to go.

This year, legislators in Michigan worked with their colleagues to pass an important flame retardant ban.  We need leadership in every state who will stand up to the influential chemical lobby and pass laws that will protect our children.

Ask your federal candidates: How will you help move toxics legislation along in Washington so that we are not depending on a decades-old toxics law?

Washington DC is doing a poor job of protecting our families from toxic chemicals.

Health advocates and sympathetic elected officials have been pushing for an overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, and have introduced bills into the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Unfortunately, those bills are stalled and we need strong leadership in Washington. We need elected officials who acknowledge the harmful effects of toxic chemicals to keep these important laws at the top of the priority list.

Want to take it a little further? Washington Toxics Coalition is encouraging you to set up a meeting with your legislative candidates to be sure that protecting kids from toxic chemicals is at the top of their agenda. You don't need to be a policy expert. Candidates enjoy talking to real people who live in their district.