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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

White House Unveils Latest Climate Spending Proposal

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Friday, October 29, 2021   

SEATTLE -- President Joe Biden has released his latest proposal for the Build Back Better plan, which includes $555 billion in investments to address climate change.

The newest plan includes measures from previous proposals, such as investments in coastal restoration, forest management and soil conservation.

Maia Bellon, partner at Cascadia Law Group and former director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, thinks the plan would benefit the state.

"Those types of climate-smart programs can really maximize carbon storage capacity from our natural and our working lands," Bellon explained. "Our folks in our state are smart and know how to get that done, but we need the means and the resources and the funding to do so."

The latest proposal includes $320 billion in tax credits for clean technology, such as clean-power transmission, storage and electric vehicles. It also includes the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, which would invest in clean-energy projects, with 40% of the benefits targeted for disadvantaged communities.

Republicans in Congress say the bill's price tag, which has been trimmed to $1.75 trillion, will hurt the economy.

The proposal also includes $105 billion for resiliency efforts, such as addressing the effects of extreme weather and wildfires.

Bellon argued the investments also are critical for the region.

"We are in the middle of seeing the effects of climate change right now," Bellon contended. "With an atmospheric river coming through the Pacific Northwest, and all of the issues that we see with drought increasing and becoming more severe each year, we do need this complementary resiliency funding."

Climate groups like The Nature Conservancy have also urged businesses to voice their support for the Build Back Better plan. Some, such as Nike and Ikea, have heeded the call.

Bellon pointed out there are provisions in the plan to benefit businesses, such as investments and incentives to build domestic supply chains for new green technologies.

"I would implore our business partners to take a look at this framework, see where they fit in and understand that we're all in this together," Bellon urged. "Again, we need every tool in the toolbox to fight climate change."

President Biden is heading to Glasgow next week for the United Nation's 26th Climate Change Conference.


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