The Great Lakes haven’t seen one dollar of the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative money approved by Congress this Fall, but already rumors are flying around the region that the money will be used to shore up state and local budgets.
The Mudpuppy reports that some in the environmental community are concerned that the GLRI will help states fill in budget gaps instead of pay for much needed restoration projects, but we hope that Healing Our Waters Co-Chair, Andy Buchsbaum put those fears to rest.

“I think that there is such a national focus on the spending of this money, that agencies know that they would use it to fill budget gaps at their own peril,” Buchsbaum, told Jeff Kart. Buchsbaum then explained that much of the money is targeted toward specific projects and that would make it difficult for any agency to use the money to fill in for gaps.

Besides, we’ll be keeping a very close eye on the funding, not to mention our member organizations as well.

Related posts:

• David Obey Cracks Door Shedding Some Light on an Increase in GLRI Funds
• Landmark Great Lakes Bill Would Provide Permanent Stream of Funds
• The US Senate Budget Resolution Fully Funds GLRI
• Carpageddon Devours GLRI Funds
• Results, Results, Results