The American Chemistry Council, which spends $100 million a year lobbying for some of the richest companies in the nation, is having great success in state capitals beating back efforts to protect the public from toxic chemicals and plastics.
According to an investigative report from the Center for Public Integrity, the council has successfully suppressed hundreds of bills dealing with chemicals in 44 states. In most cases, bills never come up for a vote.
In Florida, a bill by state Rep. Mark Danish this year that would have identified chemicals of high concern "never even saw the light of day," Danish said.