The success of Congressman Mark Kirk is a great example of how support for Great Lakes restoration makes great political sense for Republicans and Democrats throughout the region. Congresspeople in Lakes states who think restoration funding isn’t in their political interest or the economic and cultural interest of their constituents should take a close look at his efforts.

Rep. Kirk, a member of Republicans for Environmental Protection and co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, is an original architect and cosponsor of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act and has played key roles in Congressional efforts to fight aquatic invasive species. He also worked with Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski to introduce The Great Lakes Water Protection Act. Just yesterday he continued his efforts to make Indiana’s coastal BP refinery clean up its air and water discharges.

So why does a pro-business, anti-pork Republican fight so hard for Great Lakes restoration? Because he knows that Great Lakes restoration is good for business and funding for these programs is not pork.

The Illinois Tenth District contains great examples of communities seeing their lakefront as an economic asset. Waukegan, in the northern part of the district, is a great example of a post-industrial city taking back their coastline – the city kicked out a polluting lakefront cement factory to make way for a lakefront redevelopment plan including swimming, boating, and fishing areas as well as retail and condos that will eventually improve the city’s quality of life, attract residents, and boost its tourism economy. The affluent suburb of Highland Park also values its lakeshore and invests in its beaches and natural areas. No wonder Michael Jordan and Ferris Bueller live there.

Great Lakes programs are also decidedly un-porky. Funding to clean the Great Lakes doesn’t only benefit specific communities – it benefits all communities in the watershed by alleviating systemwide problems like toxic pollution and invasive species. It’s also true that polluters don’t just pollute their own communities, but those throughout the Lakes – see BP Whiting.

For playing a key role in protecting a key cultural and economic asset, the voters of the Illinois 10th have rewarded Rep. Kirk by reelecting him five times, even as Democratic Presidential candidates won the district in 2004 and 2008.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Kirk can and should play a key role in making sure the Presidents $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative gets full funding. Perhaps even more importantly, his career makes the political and ideological case for Republicans to get on board fully with the restoration of the Great Lakes.

You can contact Mark Kirk and tell him to keep fighting through the House website or by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. He’s also on Facebook and Twitter.

(photo via Congressman Kirk’s website)

Related posts:

• Congressman Kirk Goes to Bat for Great Lakes Funding
• Great Laker Award Presented To Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk
• Rep. Stupak Fights for Great Lakes on Water Caucus
• Great Lakes Restoration and the You Tube/CNN Republican Debate
• Restored Great Lakes Will Attract Business, Industry, Investment