The real headline on the story linked below should be:
Great Lakes state officials, mayors, tribes and environmental advocates challenge Bush to keep promise to protect the Great Lakes as a "national treasure."
The lead ought to be:
Governors and mayors of the Great Lakes states offered to put up $140 million in matching money for a commitment of $300 million in new federal funds to restore the health of the Great Lakes, but EPA officials dodged the challenge and said they would provide no new money for the Lakes at this time.
If you believe this story, the Great Lakes are about to get $20 billion in rescue money. They may -- but only if the people of the region fight for it, and overcome apparent federal resistance (i.e., from the Bush Administration) to promising even one new dime at this point.
As one member of Congress remarked today, this is the ninth Great Lakes "plan" in the last five years. Although more comprehensive and broader-based than previous plans, it means nothing without money. If plans were cleanups, the Great Lakes would be spic and span.
Posted by Dave at December 12, 2005 09:48 PM