President George W. Bush had an opportunity to do something right and good with this year’s budget and what did he do with it? Squandered it of course. What money there is for the Great Lakes is buried in a laborious $3 trillion budget document. Somehow the economic potential restoration presents and the future national security concerns integral to one-fifth of the world’s fresh water supply have escaped the President. Imagine that. He must not be an avid HOW reader.
“The budget short changes the Great Lakes,” said Jeff Skelding, director of the Healing our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, it “fails the Great Lakes and the millions of people who depend on them for their jobs and their way of life.” If the national economy is in the crapper, the Great Lakes region is half-way down the sewer and the White House isn’t even offering a band aid.
On the eve of Super Tuesday, the White House released its 2009 budget. In it, the President wildly wields a scythe slashing our efforts to clean up the lakes, fix the worsening problem of sewage overflows and prevent invasive species from taking over the fragile ecosystem. He requested $297.6 million for our programs – down from $353.76 for this year – exactly the wrong direction.
“We need strong federal leadership to partner with the region’s states and cities to restore the largest source of surface freshwater in the world. Instead, the White House budget cuts programs to stop sewage contamination and confront the threat of aquatic invasive species,” said Skelding.
Oh Bushy, Bushy, I lament your nearsightedness. I suppose it is my own fault for continuing to expect any change in behavior. I’d argue I need to lower my expectations to preserve my sanity, but since Bush is on his way out the door I’ll raise them to the next office holder. In the meantime, we need Congress to act to counter the President’s short sightedness.
“We can’t wait until next year, we need to fix this now,” Skelding emphasized.
Amen, Brother!
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- Historic $475 Million Obama Great Lakes Budget Will Create Jobs and Grow the Economy