Clean Water
Action’s Statement on Michigan’s New Proposed Water
Legislation
Cyndi Roper,
Michigan Director
June 24, 2008
Clean Water Action stands with its Great Lakes, Great Michigan coalition
partners in support of the negotiated water agreement which includes
the Great
Lakes Compact and improvements to Michigan’s
water protection laws, both of which are important to protecting our
water and
connected natural areas.
But we are deeply disappointed in the
Senate Republicans who
refused to enhance Michigan’s
water security by strengthening the public trust which puts the public
interest
before that of corporate interests.
Over the past year, Clean Water Action members and
volunteers sent more than 28,000 letters, made more than 1,000 phone
calls,
sent over 5,000 emails, attended town hall meetings in their districts,
and
drove to Lansing for
legislative
meetings and committee hearings. Numerous others representing the
60-plus
member organizations operating under the Great
Lakes, Great Michigan
coalition banner joined in these activities calling for increased water
security and stronger protections for our cold water streams.
In the end, the Senate Republicans refused to
adopt these
critical protections. Period. They would not budge. It has become
apparent that
they are either being manipulated by private water profiteers who are
quietly
laying claim to the world’s remaining fresh water or they are operating
on
behalf of these interests. Clean Water Action hopes for the former
because the
solution to that problem requires continued education and public
pressure. If,
however, the Senate Republicans have teamed up with the profiteers, our
task is
daunting but urgent.
Four years ago this week, I convened the initial
meeting of what
became the Great Lakes, Great Michigan
coalition. In the ensuing years, Clean Water Action and our coalition
partners
have made great strides in protecting Michigan’s
waters but our work is not complete. We will knock on more doors in
communities
throughout the state, make more phone calls, organize more meetings and
turn
every stone to ensure a secure future for Michigan’s
water treasures.
For more information, contact Cyndi Roper at 517.490.1394.
Clean Water Action is
a national 501(c)4 organization committed to clean, safe and affordable
water.
The environmental organization is the state’s largest with more than
235,000
Michigan members served by five offices located in Grand Rapids, East
Lansing,
Ann Arbor, Royal Oak and Clinton Township.