Senator fights S.T.A.R. program

10:50 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Outside Memorial Auditorium was an odd collection: those demonstrating their support of the Air Pollution Control Board and those dead set against the agency's plan, like Ford’s UAW chief.

“We feel it would be as stringent on us to continue to meet these guidelines when Ford is doing everything they possibly can at this time,” said Rocky Camito.

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Opponents were led by State Senator Dan Seum (R), who led the successful battle to get rid of vehicle emission testing and is just as determined to undo whatever Air Pollution decides.

Don Ruark / WHAS11 photojournalist

State Senator Dan Seum (R-38th District)

“We consider this local Air Pollution Control District, at least, I do consider this local Air Pollution Control District to be completely out of control,” Seum said. “Jefferson County ought to be business friendly, not business ugly. It ought to be labor friendly and not labor ugly.”

And feet away were still others condemning critics and urging the agency to do what's right.

“We’re trying to remind people that there’s 100,000 people in this community with documented respiratory diseases, at least one per person of those 100,000,” said Sarah Cunningham.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.