AeA Applauds Nebraska Governor’s Veto of Onerous Mandates on Manufacturers of Electronics

Oakbrook Terrace, IL and Washington, DC (April 21, 2008) - AeA applauds Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman’s veto of LB 986, an onerous package of new recycling mandates that would have been applied to manufacturers of electronics.

Ed Longanecker, Executive Director and Regional Director of State Government Affairs for AeA's Midwest Council spoke for hundreds of electronics manufacturers when he expressed AeA’s support for the Governor’s action. He said,

“Governor Heineman wisely recognized that this legislation accomplished little for the environment while placing onerous new compliance burdens and government fees on the manufacturers of electronic products. AeA has worked in states around the country to enact recycling legislation that protects the environment and consumers while taking into consideration the unique characteristics of electronic products."

"In Nebraska, AeA worked closely with Governor Heineman and members of the legislature in an effort to find a compromise solution that all could support. In the end, however, legislators promoting high fees and unreasonable performance standards were able to prevent a working compromise. Electronics manufacturers remain committed to recycling and to ensuring that discarded consumer products are treated in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner," added Longanecker.

In vetoing LB 986, Governor Heineman cited several provisions of the bill including the legislation’s $1.6 million in new and excessively high fees, the increased costs of technology to the consumer and the state, and the economic barriers the bill would have created.

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About AeA
AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit www.aeanet.org.

This page was last updated on 04/22/08.