Mark Kirk is a Republican, but don’t assume that he’s dead-set against education and the environment, as many Republicans in Congress are. Congressman Kirk has more progressive attitudes than most Republicans, and in expression of this perspective, he’s decided to set an example for his colleagues. Unlike some Republicans, Kirk is offering a solution of their own to the serious economic, educational and environmental issues faced by our nation – all in one bill.

Go to the legislative web site of the Library of Congress and find H.R. 58, the Green Schools Act, introduced by Mark Kirk and co-sponsored by Chris Carney. It’s a good bill in its vision, if perhaps too small in its scope.

The bill would authorize 5 million dollars in grants through the Environmental Protection Agency per year until 2013 for projects intended to “create a healthy learning environment while saving natural resources and money”.

How about that – promoting education while improving economic efficiency and protecting the environment. That’s a heck of a lot more than the 700 billion dollars poured into the Wall Street bailout have done.

That brings me to the one weakness of the Green Schools Act. It isn’t nearly big enough to make a real difference. The Green Schools Act is in form what the Wall Street bailout should have been – a real investment in real benefits for our society.

Imagine what could have been done if that 700 billion dollars were allocated to converting public school districts to thoroughly energy efficient technology. A huge number of jobs would have been created in every community across the USA. Those same communities would be set up to save huge amounts of money for years to come. The emission of greenhouse gases would be slowed significantly – think of all the school buses you see on the road, and now reimagine them with hybrid engines like those of a Prius. Resources for education would be established for an entire generation.

A word to the Republicans: If you want to see how to recapture the respect of voters, look to bills like the Green School Act. There ought to be huge numbers of Republicans lining up to cosponsor this legislation.

A word to the Democrats: If you don’t start offering bills such as this Green Schools Act with the same enthusiasm and funding you’re giving to tax cuts and real estate speculation through your monstrous stimulus package, you’re setting yourselves up to lose the respect of voters.

Which brings me to a piece of legislation from Rush Holt… tomorrow…