Is it possible for a group of high school students to get a bill passed? I kid you not, a small group of high school students from Kent Denver School researched on the dangers of plastic bags, and were able to get a bill banning plastic bags proposed and passed in its first congressional hearing.  The students helped craft Senate  Bill 156, that will ban all plastic bags from large retail stores starting July 1, 2012. According to Kent students, "the bill is needed to reduce the bags, which consume oil, fill landfills, clog streams, choke animals and generally clutter the planet."  Plastic Bags have been banned in numerous states, in fact San Fransisco banned the usage of plastic bags from retail stores in 2007.  Last Wednesday, Kent students testified in front of the Labor and Technology Committee on the need for Colorado to be an active participant in environmental protection.  With persistent research, Kent students effectively answered all concerns from committee members, and SB 156 passed with a 4-3 party line vote.  The work is not done yet, stay tuned to track the progress of SB 156.  Please take a few minutes and watch the following YouTube video that will describe the effects of plastic bags in our environment.