Several House Democrats have co-sponsored legislation that would charge consumers 10 cents per plastic bag used.  California and Washington, D.C. already have statutes on the books that tax the bags, and several local ordinances are in effect in small and medium-sized cities. Washington Examiner: Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., proposed the legislation in an effort to build off the way that some areas of the country charge consumers for using plastic bags in order to reduce waste. California and Washington, D.C., already charge people to use plastic bag. "I'm proud of the fact that cities in my District and throughout California have led the way on dealing with plastic bag pollution, but it is time for us to take action at a national level," Lowenthal said. "Plastic pollution is one of the most visible environmental impacts of our consumer age. All Americans can reap the same benefits that California has: less plastic pollution and a higher quality of...(Read Full Post)