Advocates and Democratic politicians are asking congressional Republicans to set aside more money for the Great Lakes and aging sewer systems.
President Barack Obama is proposing to spend $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) over the next year – the same expenditure as this year. The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate approved the expenditure. The Republican- dominated House, however, at first cut the spending to $60 million, but now may be okay with $210 million.
The potential $90 million cut troubles Racine Mayor John Dickert: “Is it very efficient to go into a project mid-stream and tell the project that they have to stop? Because once they have to get started up again, they’re going to charge you for all those costs.”
Wisconsin has already received about $180 million from the GLRI for beach clean-ups, pollution prevention and other projects.
Great Lakes mayors say they're also worried about a plan by House Republicans to make a major cut in a nationwide loan fund that helps states improve sewage treatment. The GOP and Senate Democrats are more than a billion dollars apart in terms of funding.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says his city is one of many in need of sewer upgrades: “Throughout Milwaukee, and throughout all of southeastern Wisconsin, we have to constantly update these sewers.”
House Republicans have generally argued that the federal budget deficit is forcing cutbacks in many programs. The office of House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (D-Wisc.) did not respond to a request for comment.
