[OKC] From NY Times: Fight Waged With Forks Is Rejoined in Congress

[Miles, Karen]

Fight Waged With Forks Is Rejoined in Congress


By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/jennifer_s
teinhauer/index.html?inline=nyt-per> 

WASHINGTON - Within the war between Republicans and Democrats over the
federal spending rages an affray over disposable forks. 
Under the tutelage of Representative Nancy Pelosi
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/nancy_pelo
si/index.html?inline=nyt-per>  during the years when Democrats ran the
House, her party moved to "green" the Capitol with several initiatives,
including obligating the food vendor for the three main House cafeterias
to provide compostable cups and utensils. But the newly empowered House
Republicans have ended the program, and plastic forks and foam cups have
returned. 
The move enraged many Democrats, who argue that the House is now doing
something bad for the environment and retrograde. 
"If you look at the best companies to work for, nobody is questioning
things like composting and recycling," said Representative Earl
Blumenauer
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/earl_blume
nauer/index.html?inline=nyt-per> , Democrat of Oregon, who wrote a
letter this week to Speaker John A. Boehner
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/john_a_boe
hner/index.html?inline=nyt-per>  to complain about the cut. Mr.
Blumenauer's letter - signed by some Democratic colleagues as well -
also cited health concerns associated with plastic foam. 
Republicans counter that the composting program cost too much and had
limited environmental benefits, and that the compostable utensils were a
bad deal for diners anyway because they could not stand up to hot soup
and the heartier salad fixings. 
To continue, go to: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/us/politics/17compost.html?nl=todayshe
adlines&emc=tha24&pagewanted=print
 
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