A Biden administration policy to phase out single-use plastic straws on public lands prompted an absurd scene in the House of Representatives late Thursday night.
The Department of the Interior announced the policy this year, stating that it aims to achieve the end of plastic straws within the next decade.
Not so fast, said Rep. John Rose (R-TN), who introduced an amendment to block the measure just before midnight on Thursday during a floor debate on funding for the department.
“My amendment is straightforward,” Rose declared. “My amendment will prevent the Department of Interior from banning the sale of plastic straws on public lands and national parks.”
He then cited a study suggesting that “paper straws may not be more eco-friendly than plastic straws.”
“The American people do not want the government dictating what type of straws they can drink from,” he added. “A ‘yes’ vote on my amendment is a resounding repudiation of the nanny state that the Biden administration is currently building via edicts from unelected bureaucrats.”
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) was incredulous.
“Honestly, I don’t know even where to start,” she began, adding:
I’m pretty sure it’s about midnight and we – this is the United States Congress – we are dealing with enormous challenges in the world. We currently have a war going on in Ukraine with Russia, Israel with Hamas. And we are trying to face climate change and so many serious issues.
And we’re here debating a plastic straw – whether or not plastic straws should be used, whether or not they’re the best alternative. I mean, I understand. It’s complicated – what is the best kind of straw to use? A reusable straw, a paper straw, a plastic straw.
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/congresswoman-reaches-wits-end-thanks-to-republicans-midnight-amendment-were-here-debating-a-plastic-straw/