Healing Our Waters Coalition » Congressional Winners and Losers

Great Lakes $50 Million Funding Boost Remains Undermined by Ballast Boondoggle

Jordan Lubetkin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:41:01 +0000

Some good news emerged this week in the effort to improve Great Lakes restoration funding in the 2012 House Interior-EPA funding bill. The House passed an amendment offered by Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) to add $50 million to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. His amendment passed the House 220 to 206. See how your member voted here.

That boosts Great Lakes funding in the Interior spending bill from $250 million to $300 million – a significant increase that allows more projects that protect drinking water, public health, and quality of life for people throughout the region to be funded.

The bump in restoration funding is being touted by Rep. LaTourette in the media. On Cleveland TV station WKYC’s Web site, Rep. LaTourette said:

“This is a huge victory for the Great Lakes, which contain 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. We need to make sure we protect this valuable resource,” LaTourette said.

There’s just one issue: The funding increase could be a mirage for most of the Great Lakes states. As long as Rep. LaTourette’s ballast provision remains in the spending bill, six-of-eight Great Lakes states— including LaTourette’s home state of Ohio – are at risk of losing tens of millions of dollars of federal funding.

Why? Because they’re taking action to protect their water quality and economy from the onslaught of invasive species introduced through ballast water of foreign ships. Any state like Ohio that enacts more protective standards than the ineffective federal standards are in danger of losing all EPA funding.

The ballast provision could set back restoration efforts by delaying critical protections to prevent new species from invading the Great Lakes through ballast water and causing more damage to the environment.

The provision also sells out the Great Lakes to an industry that has fought tooth and nail against cleaning up its act. For years, shippers made excuses for inaction while continuing to dump biological pollution into the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters that caused incredible economic and environmental damage. Federal public officials were complacent, doing nothing to stop the onslaught even as invasive species such as the zebra mussel spread across the country.

People, small businesses, communities and utilities were left to foot the bill. Economists estimate that the cumulative damage of invasive species in the Great Lakes in the billions of dollars—with the annual tab of at least $200 million in damages and control costs.

The shipping industry is back, working with public officials like Rep. LaTourette to escape accountability for polluting U.S. waters. The new wrinkle is that the shipping industry wants to cut states off from funds that, ironically, are being used in part to clean up the mess the shipping industry made in the first place.

In short, it’s one big ballast boondoggle.

Until this disastrous provision is stripped from the bill, our Great Lakes restoration scorecard in the Interior bill reads: one step forward and two steps – if not more – back.

It’s important to remember that the ballast provision and restoration funding comprise only a portion of the interior bill, which, as a whole, still stinks. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding—even with the recent boost—remains far below 2010 funding levels of $475 million. Other essential programs – namely the Clean Water State Revolving Fund which helps communities stop sewage contamination into area waters – suffer huge cuts as well. Throw in the poisonous provisions in the bill which undermine clean water protections and hamper professionals at the EPA from doing their jobs, then there’s only one conclusion: This bill needs to be opposed, sent back to the drawing board and rewritten.

Election Day 2010: Erie Sees Red

tpache — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:31:59 +0000

Rep. Kathleen Dahlkemper (D) lost her third district race to Mike Kelly, a republican and former car dealer. Dahlkemper – whose district borders Lake Erie – was an unwavering supporter of Great Lakes restoration – appearing at the Great Lakes Day events each winter she was in office and pulling for restoration issues. While Dahlkemper will be missed, there is much to celebrate with the election of her opponent Kelly, who is on the record recognizing the importance of keeping Asian Carp out of the lakes.

While campaigning, Kelly appeared with Michigan Rep. Fred Upton at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. During the press conference he pledged to work with other Great Lakes lawmakers in a bipartisan way to fight the threat of the Asian Carp and for policies that benefit Great Lakes communities. The topics that came up at the event included invasive species and the importance of Lake Erie on the regional economy.

The loss of the third district to the Democrats was not that shocking – in fact, the Pennsylvania Republicans took control of the US House delegation winning a majority of the state’s 19 seats, they also now command the two US Senate seats and the Governor’s Mansion. After a bloody political battle, Joe Sestak (who had been friendly to Great Lakes issues) lost to former congressman and republican Pat Toomey. Sestak – who beat Arlene Specter in the democratic primary – was painted as an Obama lackey during the Senate campaign. This did not go over well in rural Pennsylvania, an area where there is significant voter discontent due to high unemployment; and they didn’t like Obama’s health care law or the economic stimulus package. On the other hand, Toomey opposed almost all of Obama’s policies, but what is most worrisome for Great Lakes restoration – Toomey when in Congress voted against a bill that would eliminate any attempt to drill for oil in the Great Lakes. During his Senate campaign, Toomey was asked to respond to a Sestak video on this subject and Toomey said he would not rule out drilling in the Great Lakes.

Election Day 2010: Indiana Incumbents Win Lake Districts

tpache — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:25:33 +0000

New Democrat Evan Bayh decided not to seek reelection this year opening up a US Senate seat for Indiana that veteran republican lawmaker Dan Coats handily won. An old school Republican Congressman, former US Ambassador and Lobbyist, Coats promised to limit government, lower taxes and balance the budget while continuing to provide the Department of Defense with as much cash as necessary. In the end, republicans took two Congressional seats from the democrats leaving the GOP with six and Dems with 3, but the two Great Lakes coastal districts remain with incumbents.

Rep. Joe Donnelly (D) and Rep. Pete Visclosky (D) will continue to represent the first and second districts in Indiana. Both are members of the Great Lakes Task Force. Donnelly was the co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Compact and Visclosky fought long and hard for the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative calling it a “landmark investment” in the Great Lakes.

“I have always been committed to protecting and preserving the lakes, and I am proud to commit these new funds for their restoration,” said Visclosky, adding “A healthy and vibrant Lake Michigan means a better quality of life in Northwest Indiana.”

We can only expect these two lawmakers will continue to work doggedly to keep the GLRI money flowing to our region. But what will Coats do for the Great Lakes? That is a good question; he is a veteran politician and would have an easy time working both sides of the aisle which is desperately needed these days. But in years past, when representing Indiana in the early 1990s, the League of Conservation Voters gave him low ratings. Perhaps Reps. Donnelly and Visclosky should send Senate-elect Coats the Brookings Report and an invitation to join them supporting Great Lakes restoration.

Election Day 2010: Wisconsin: Awash in Water and now Oil?

tpache — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:03:09 +0000

The Great Lakes became a contentious issue during the campaign for Russ Feingold’s (D) US Senate seat. Feingold’s republican opponent Ron Johnson let slip that he would support drilling for oil in the Great Lakes. It wasn’t long before someone advised him to reverse his position and he did, but now he is Wisconsin’s US Senator and it is clear, if nothing else, that he doesn’t understand the importance of Great Lakes restoration to his state and the region’s economic recovery otherwise he would never had made such a blunder.

Senator Elect Johnson, who owns significant stock in BP (and Exxon and Occidental Petroleum) and has expressed disappointment with the Administration’s “assault” on the oil giant after they created the worst environmental disaster in humankind’s history in the Gulf of Mexico, needs to be educated on our issues. Johnson is a businessman so we should start with telling him that every dollar spent on Great Lakes restoration creates a two-fold profit for area businesses and property owners. Will someone please send him the Brookings Report?

Johnson wasn’t the only republican victory in the Badger State, in fact, the Governor’s mansion, two US House Seats and the State Legislature all went to the GOP. Thank goodness that Great Lakes restoration is a bipartisan issue.

In May, Rep. David Obey (D-7) said he would retire at the end of this term – a major blow to Great Lakes advocates as the longtime Representative fought hard for Great Lakes issues and chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee. Wisconsin voters chose republican Sean Duffy, a businessman who promised to scale down government spending. Last week, he met in Duluth with Port Authority officials to discuss great lakes issues. Officials explained the need for environmental protection and infrastructure improvements. They let him know the federal government is responsible for dredging Duluth-Superior Harbor and has in the past invested millions in port improvements. At the news conference following the meeting, Duffy stuck to his fiscal guns promising to cut non-defense discretionary spending back to 2008 levels (that’s before the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative), but he did say, “I think there’s a balance, a lot of times folks might see as a competing interest between the economy and the environment. And I think both can be successful and both can accomplish their goals.” So, we have an opening – a crack in the door so to speak – let’s get in there.

On the House side, the districts bordering the Great Lakes will have one other newcomer – Reid Ribble (R) who defeated long-time Great Lakes advocate Steve Kagen (D) for the 8th district seat in Wisconsin. Ribble is a keen businessman, a member of his local chamber of commerce and while his town’s chamber isn’t a member of the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, we can hope he knows about their campaign for Great Lakes restoration. The Blueprint for Prosperity explains how restoring the lakes will benefit the economy and finally pull the region out of the economic doldrums it has been battered by for years. There is a good chance Ribble will bring new vigor to the Great Lakes delegation when he comes to Washington.

The rest of Wisconsin’s coastal delegation remains in place, including Paul Ryan (R), Gwen Moore (D), James Sensenbrenner (R) and Thomas Petri (R).

Election Day 2010: Red Tide Hit Ohio Shoreline Stays Blue

tpache — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:33:56 +0000

It was a painful election day for Democrats in Ohio as a red tide came in and took with it the Governorship, five Congressional seats and any sway in the state legislature. But what is most interesting is that when the tide receded it left a sea blue line across the northern border of the Great Lakes state. Every district bordering Lake Erie voted for their incumbent lawmaker and that means that districts 9,10,11 and 13 are held by Democrats and Steven LaTourette (R) still represents the 14th district.

That is great news for those of us who care about the restoration of the Great Lakes as these lawmakers have been educated for and advocate for our cause. The Districts carry names you’ll know well, such as, Marcy Kaptur (D), Dennis Kucinich (D), Marcia Fudge (D), Betty Sutton (D) and LaTourette (R). This delegation knows that investing in Great Lakes restoration is an investment in the economic recovery of the state and region. These tried and true lawmakers are going to have to continue to work in a bipartisan way and help their new colleagues understand the importance of the lakes.

In the US Senate, George Voinovich (R), a longstanding hero for Great Lakes issues decided to retire leaving Democrat Sharrod Brown with the institutional knowledge on restoration issues. He will be succeeded by another Republican, Rob Portman. Portman has supported the Great Lakes Legacy Act in the past and has expressed support for a number of Voinovich’s initiatives, such as his ballast legislation and efforts to halt the advance of the zebra mussel. During his campaign, Portman told sportsmen that he wants to protect the $7 billion fishing industry from the Asian Carp. He also expressed interest in Senator Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) proposal to separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. These are all positive signs that Portman could become a real champion for the Great Lakes. Let’s not forget that the new Speaker of the House John Boehner is a Buckeye and that means Portman and LaTourette are in a unique position to create a powerful alliance with him that would make all the difference for Great Lakes restoration and the jobs that come with it.

Great Lakes Programs Need Champions in New Congress

tpache — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:03:21 +0000

Republicans and a handful of Tea Party candidates were swept into office last week, promising to cut federal spending and scale back the size of the federal government. Candidates pledged to wield the budget scythe to eliminate earmarks. Several beltway publications have indicated that GOP lawmakers would like to cut environmental programs—including the EPA’s regional water restoration initiatives.

Note to lawmakers—Republican and Democratic alike: The Great Lakes are not earmarks. They are national landmarks.

Making that case will be increasingly difficult, as seven Great Lakes champions are retiring or departing office in defeat in January. It is clear we need fresh bipartisan voices to champion our cause and educate the nation on the importance of restoration.

There is hope for new bi-partisan champions. Newly elected Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has been an advocate for Great Lakes restoration in the U.S. House of Representatives; perhaps he can take up the banner for Great Lakes restoration in the U.S. Senate. Newly elected Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has already voiced his support for action to keep the Asian carp out of the Lakes and to confront the algae crisis in Lake Erie; he could also provide an important voice for Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery now that Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) is retiring.

In the meantime, it would behoove the Great Lakes delegation to pass spending bills before the Holiday recess. At this moment, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Great Lakes Legacy Act have not been appropriated for FY2011.

Passing the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act would also greatly help to maintain the progress the nation is making to restore the Lakes. GLEPA authorizes several successful programs in one bill, including the Great Lakes Legacy Act at $150 million and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million for the next five years. The initiative invests in programs to restore habitat, prevent and control invasive species, clean up toxic pollution, reduce farm and city runoff, restore wetlands and habitat, and fund the Great Lakes National Program Office that coordinates restoration efforts. The bill would accelerate efforts to confront historic and emerging threats while ensuring that restoration efforts are prioritized, science-based and transparent.

Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who introduced the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act last March, has said, “Nearly a tenth of our population lives in the Great Lakes basin, relying on the life-sustaining drinking water the lakes provide and reaping economic and recreational benefits from them daily.”

The senator’s comments underscore the point that Great Lakes programs are not earmarks – they support clean drinking water, job creation and the quality of life for millions of Americans. The bill has the benefit of bipartisan support probably because Great Lakes restoration programs are smart investments.

However, anticipating a tough go if we wait until the new session, the Healing Our Waters Campaign and the Great Lakes Task Force in Congress are circulating letters supporting swift congressional action on these Great Lakes issues in November. There is a chance that Members will filibuster to delay making any spending plans until after the Holidays. We can’t let this moment slip away; we have to defend these hard won dollars and the future economy of our region.

Great Lakes Are Great Waters

tpache — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:37:11 +0000

Water advocates from the Florida Everglades, Puget Sound, Coastal Louisiana and the Gulf of Maine flew in to speak to the Healing Our Waters Coalition at their sixth annual national conference to implore them to continue supporting the Great Waters Coalition.

Congress is readying to change with the next election and the Great Lakes are losing some incredible champions such as Rep. David Obey (D-Wisc.) chief of the Appropriations Committee who pushed through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million last session. Other members of our delegation are also leaving, including Rep. Ehlers (R-Mich), Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), Arlene Specter (D-PA), Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind).

“We’ve heard great things about the GLRI, but here is the thing – it isn’t authorized and it could be referred to as a great big ear mark. This is not a position the Great Lakes wants to be in – we need GLRI codified and authorized at $475 million a year,” said Malia Hale, Director of the National Restoration and Water Resources for the National Wildlife Federation.

There are another eight water bills that cover other restoration projects, such as Puget Sound, the coast of Louisiana and Chesapeake Bay and they are wrapped up into a bill that includes the GLRI – one great big omnibus water bill. The majority of the restoration projects in the bill are also Great Waters Coalition members. Recently, there have been whispers about adding wild life bills to this act, and funding to address the Asian carp – yikes!

Another complication raised by Peter Alexander of the Gulf of Maine is that it is likely the Great Lakes need much more than $25 billion to be fully restored. “I suspect you have a bigger number lurking in the closet and your advocacy work is just getting started,” he said.

Encouraging HOW members to think nationally, Alexander explained that he sends letters on behalf of the Great Lakes to his US Senators in Maine. “We need a national approach to great water. If we all work together instead of having 15 or 16 Senators supporting GLRI we can have 60 or 70.”

New York state alone has five great waters from Lakes Erie and Ontario to the Hudson River to the New York and New Jersey Estuary to the top of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and that alone should interest New York HOW members in the Great Waters Coalition. But it isn’t only New York that would benefit, as Alexander explained when he listed out the benefits of the Great Waters Coalition to the Great Lakes – more power, more reach, more funds, more shared knowledge and finally “healthy lakes and healthy lives.”

“If you care about the Great Lakes then help us pass this larger bill that will help us support everybody’s work,” Hale said.

Majority of Americans Support Federal Action on Climate Change

tpache — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:58:08 +0000

An overwhelming majority of Americans not only believe in global warming, but they think it is being made worse by human behavior and they want the government to do something about it, according to a new poll by Stanford University’s Political Psychological Research Group. The results are significant because of tomorrow’s vote on a controversial amendment offered by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would, for all intents and purposes, strip away the EPA’s authority to regulate global warming pollution.

Why is that a big deal for the people who are working to restore the Great Lakes? Because left unchecked, rising temperatures will wreak havoc on the Great Lakes, creating new problems such as lower lake levels, and exacerbating existing threats, such as sewage overflows and habitat destruction. For the millions of people who rely on the Great Lakes, it is imperative that the nation work aggressively to confront global warming pollution.

Restoring the Great Lakes will also help buffer the impacts of rising temperatures. Restoring the Lakes will help restore the Lakes’ natural resiliency—their immune system. Healthy lakes will be better able to withstand some of the changes that climate change will bring in the coming years as the nation works to tackle global warming.

The new survey offers some hope that the American public understands the severity of climate change and wants action now.

The survey found that 74 percent of respondents thought the earth’s temperature had most likely been heating up over the last century; 75 percent said human behavior was substantially responsible for the warming; and an overwhelming 86 percent said they want the federal government to limit the amount of air pollution that businesses emit. In particular, 76 percent would like to see government limit business’s emissions of greenhouse gases.

The poll also asked people to respond to some of the main arguments being used by opponents to undermine climate change legislation. The survey found that only 18 percent thought unemployment would rise if the government was to act to reduce global warming; barely 20 percent thought action on climate change would harm the economy. A minority of respondents thought that the United States shouldn’t take action unless China, India and other industrial countries choose to do so.

The fossil fuel industry has spent millions of dollars fighting climate change legislation and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the general public. This poll found that 72 percent of Americans think that the majority of business leaders don’t want the federal government to take action to stop global warming. They will, most likely, then believe that any vote to eliminate greenhouse gas regulations is a vote for big industry and paid for by big industry, according to Jon Korsnick, a professor of communication, political science and psychology at Stanford.
The new survey makes it clear that being in Murkowski’s camp is not a place where elected representatives want to be right now–not with the anti-Washington sentiment spilling over into primary races across the nation.

The survey questioned more than 1,000 people and it was paid for by a grant from the National Science Foundation to Stanford University.

Lessons from the Gulf Disaster

tpache — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:23:01 +0000

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragedy that continues to unfold. It is leading to an important national discussion on America’s energy policy which continues to rely on fossil fuels—and the risks in continuing to do so. The Great Lakes are no stranger to oil and gas exploration. While there is a moratorium currently on any new exploration on the U.S. side of the border, both the United States and Canada have active wells. And Canada has no such moratorium—prompting U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) to go on the offensive, asking the Obama Administration to negotiate an end to drilling with Canada.

The easing of regulations and lack of oversight on everything from Wall Street to mining has backfired and Sen. Stabenow told the Toledo Blade that the Gulf of Mexico is the latest casualty.

“It is really a call to action not only to us to get off foreign oil, but also oil as a form of energy,” she said. A similar event in the Great Lakes, a system that holds 90 percent of this nation’s surface fresh water and nearly 20 percent of the world’s supply, would be catastrophic.

There are nearly 500 natural gas wells on the Canadian side of Lake Erie in the Province of Ontario. Since the turn of the last century, Canada has drilled about 2,500 wells beneath the lake. The United States halted drilling in the Great Lakes in 2005. And although Michigan has a similar state ban against drilling there are a handful of shoreline wells in the state of which Sen. Stabenow recommends allowing the leases to run out.

Courting Disaster

Another One Bites The Dust: Souder to Resign, Specter Ousted

tpache — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:46:13 +0000

The list of Great Lakes lawmakers who will not return to Congress in January continues to grow by the week. And there are some very heavy hitters on the list. This week, another resignation and a failed primary bid seal the fate of two more Great Lakes policymakers.

U.S. Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) will resign his seat on Friday after admitting to having an affair with a part-time staffer. Rep. Souder had just won a tough primary against car dealer Bob Thomas.

“It is with great regret I announce that I am resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives as well as resigning as the Republican nominee for Congress in this fall’s election,’’ Souder wrote, “I sinned against God, my wife, and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff. . . . I am so shamed to have hurt those I love.’’

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) will have to decide if there will be a special election to replace Souder on the ballot.

In another upset, Pennsylvania Democrats failed to endorse Sen. Arlene Specter during yesterday’s primary. Sen. Specter, who switched political parties in a last-ditch effort to hold onto his seat, has supported Great Lakes restoration in the past. State Dems threw their support behind U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak. Rep. Sestak is a co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act. If elected to the U.S. Senate, we will urge him to continue to champion Great Lakes restoration.

In addition to Specter and Souder, the Great Lakes restoration campaign will be saying goodbye to a number of Great Lakes advocates who are retiring after years of respectable service, they include: Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.), Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).