Admin. Drops Support of Plan to Save Great Lakes

[Inland]

Because the adminstration is full of jerks, because they need the money to fund three weeks of the Iraq war, and because suddenly we don't need fresh water or inland seas anymore. This is of concern to ALL Americans, and Canadians, too.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0510070346oct07,1,4935849.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Great Lakes plan all washed up
Hit with hurricane sticker shock, the Bush administration nixes $20 billion restoration

By Michael Hawthorne
Tribune staff reporter
Published October 7, 2005


After a year of promises to make the Great Lakes a greater national priority, the Bush administration is pulling back from an ambitious $20 billion plan to restore and protect the world's largest source of freshwater.

Three months after the plan was released for public comment, administration officials are finalizing a report to President Bush that concludes federal spending on the Great Lakes should remain "within current budget projections," meaning no new money should be allocated.

Instead, federal, state and local officials should concentrate on "improving the efficiency and effectiveness of existing programs," according to the draft report, a copy of which was obtained by the Tribune.

Without the administration's support, Congress likely will not endorse more aggressive--and more expensive--efforts to clean up contaminated ports, fix aging sewer systems, block invasive species and improve the shoreline. Legislation calling for more spending on the Great Lakes already is bottled up in House and Senate committees.