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Great Lakes Budget Proposal: Pretty Good

Tue, 02/02/2010 - 13:11 — Dave Dempsey

Lehner: St. Joseph Lighthouse1

Lehner: St. Joseph Lighthouse1 ~Enlarge

The Obama Administration's proposed 2011 budget slices its Great Lakes initiative by over one-third, from $475 million this year to $300 million in the proposal. That may sound disproportionate but it's actually surprisingly good in light of a couple of realities:

* Even if funding continues at the $300 million level or less in future budgets, it's likely the four years of the President's term will result in more than $1 billion in new Great Lakes money.

* As EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson pointed out yesterday, most of this year's $475 milion is not yet spent, and there will be carryover well into the next fiscal year.

* The eight Great Lakes states have so far thrown in little new money to match and increase the effectiveness of the federal funds.

* Significant funding reductions are proposed for some other areas of the budget.

At this point, the burden is not on the President to propose more money than he has, but for the recipients of said money to prove they are doing something valuable with it.

» About author Dave Dempsey

Comments

Gary Wilson's picture

Great Lakes Budget Deal That Won't Happen...

Submitted by Gary Wilson on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 15:32.

I agree Dave with your assessment on the FY2011 budget for the Great Lakes.

And here's something to think about.

Given the deficit realities, both real and political, I'd even give the feds $50 million back for 2011 reducing the Great Lakes budget to $250 million. That is, if they'd take the basic precaution of temporarily closing the locks leading to Lake Michigan while the agencies sort out what to do about the Asian Carp.

A $50 million giveback would be a bargain compared to what would have to be spent if the carp establish themselves in the Lakes.

I know, that's not the way it works.

gw

 

Now's The Time For A Little Brainstorming

Submitted by Jason Tafilowski on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 20:00.

Or maybe the $50 million giveback could be used to lessen the blow to the local Illinois economy.  It won't happen, but no idea is too crazy to at least entertain when considering how dire the situation is.  

It just seems like we are wasting a lot of time.