Two years ago, when up for re-election, President Bush with much fanfare signed an executive order calling the Great Lakes a "national treasure," setting in motion a process that resulted in a $20 billion restoration plan for the Lakes.
http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/EnvironmentNewsService/2004/05/19/471108?extID=10032&oliID=213
It's a pretty good plan. But George Bush is not up for re-election this year, and here's what the plan has led to:
Despite calls for federal financial assistance from scientists and state officials, the Bush administration says it won't be investing billions of dollars in new funding for cleaning up the Great Lakes.
The admission came Wednesday during a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing as members of Congress, including Michigan's Rep. Vern Ehlers, quizzed Bush officials about the administration's financial commitment to Great Lakes restoration.
"I'm very disappointed the administration has taken the position that we'll only undertake the recommendations ...that can be done within existing budget projections," said Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids. "We simply cannot accomplish what we need to do ... with the current funding."
http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1158190802278720.xml&coll=1
Posted by Dave at September 14, 2006 08:42 AM