GOP and Great Lakes

I'm doing Bonnie's thing this evening blogging for The Detroit News during the GOP YouTube debate. Should be interesting, this is the first post I put up for it:

This country needs a president that won't turn his back on the Great Lakes.

A 2006 Brookings Institution study concluded that investing about $26 billion to clean up pollution hotspots (Areas of Concern), protect against invasive species and address low water levels will have return economic benefits of more than $50 billion.

This funding would come primarily from the federal government through the Great Lakes Restoration Act.

Great Lakes states and governors are on the bandwagon, both the U.S. House and Senate recognize the effort and even Gov. Bill Richardson, D-New Mexico, would appreciate some clean water to steal.

Yet President Bush was quick to veto this bill that swiftly passed through Congress. Thankfully, for the first time ever in his presidency, Bush's veto was overridden by Congress earlier this month.

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell got in the mix, creating a 33-second plea for the GLRA he hopes will air during the debate. We'll see if his video is chosen and which candidates respond.

It's going to be up to our next president to persevere with this important legislation that not only affects the region, but both the U.S. and Canada.

Perhaps sustaining the Great Lakes, the largest surface freshwater system on the planet, 84 percent of North America's freshwater and about 21 percent of the world's supply, will benefit the whole world.

Think Bonnie's idea will be effective? How about the debate itself?