Presidential Tracking Poll

Michigan Columnist Calls on Voters to Highlight Great Lakes in 2008 Election

Syndicated columnist George Weeks this week highlighted the importance of Michigan to demand more from the 2008 presidential candidates. He writes: the key thing is for Michigan voters to stress the issue as candidates campaign here. He also mentions Michigan’s efforts to move forward on Great Lakes restoration, as well as the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives Boat Tour as important ways to get the candidates’ attention this summer. Click here to contact the presidential candidates about the Great Lakes.

It is the Economy Stupid, All Over Again!

Democrats in the Great Lake State of Indiana came out for Hillary Clinton yesterday giving her a slight edge over Barack Obama in the state as the two compete to become the presidential candidate for the blue party. But it wasn’t the big gas tax debate that affected the votes of Indiana democrats – it was the economy, according to nine out of ten voters.

We, at HOW, have embraced the Brookings report that shows that by fully implementing the Great Lakes Collaboration Strategy, the economic engine in our region would be revved up once again - jobs would be created, Read More » »

Never Forget Those Who Think We Are Awash In Water

The Great Lakes State of Pennsylvania gave Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain resounding victories in the contest to determine who will run for US President this fall. While Great Lakes states share a concern over our fresh water and the next president’s intentions for it, water, is increasingly becoming a national and international issue.

“We need to have a president who will take seriously the problem with water,” Sen. Hillary Clinton said at an early April campaign stop in Oregon. “Water has always been a local and state issue. I think that is probably all to the Read More » »

War Game Proves: Saving the Great Lakes is a National Security Issue

Imagine it is the year 2030 and China has invaded Siberia while its allies India and Pakistan point nuclear missiles at the populous Western Russia. The Russians have positioned themselves to invade Canada while China has lined the U.S. West Coast with warships. Meanwhile, Mexico and Central America have invaded Brazil. And after years of civil war, African countries have disintegrated into political chaos and violence. What brought all this about? Fresh water.

Nations need fresh water resources to feed their people and crops as well as make the economic engines run, but our fresh water is threatened by pollution, diversion, Read More » »

Nowhere To Go But Up

For those who have dedicated themselves to tirelessly advocating for the Great Lakes, the President’s budget was disheartening to say the least. It became clear to most of us that the restoration of the Lakes and possibly the inspiration for a new vibrant economy in our region won’t happen until we have a Commander-in-Chief who is fully committed to our cause.

“This is not going to happen until we have a candidate for President committed to putting it in the budget,” Michigan Senator Carl Levin (D) told us at the US Capitol last week. Just moments before Illinois Rep. Rahm Read More » »

From Super Tuesday to Toledo the Race Is On

Well, well, well, it looks like the the Buckeye State has just gone up a notch or two in the eyes of delegate hungry presidential hopefuls from both parties. Ohio could be the win–or-break state in this primary season - deciding who represents each party on the 2008 Presidential tickets. Oh, and did we mention that Ohio’s entire northern border is Lake Erie? That may just mean issues such as sewage, invasive species and pollution in the lakes are of concern to voters on March 4, Ohio’s primary day. Hmmm, the plot sure does thicken, does it not?

In the last Read More » »

White House Budget Leaves Great Lakes on Thin Ice

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been reviewing President Bush’s proposed White House budget that was released on Monday.

The verdict: not good for the Great Lakes.

Our early take on the budget holds.

Read for yourself how Great Lakes programs fared in a spreadsheet comparing the White House budget request with enacted spending levels.

The biggest single cut is to a program to help communities modernize old wastewater treatment facilities to prevent sewage contamination. You can read how the cuts will affect each Great Lakes Read More » »

The Big Fat Super Tuesday Showdown

Since last fall, Great Lakes governors, congressmen, mayors and state legislators have been driving home the message that the eight states are significant to anyone running for president. Why? Well, for starters we hold captive 141 electoral votes and five potential swing states. But the Great Lakes states shouldn’t be shirked in the frenzy to secure the party nomination as they play a pivotal role in the early days as well.

Together, the Great Lakes states offer 53 percent of the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination and 35 percent of those needed to become the Republican nominee. On Super Read More » »

McCain Signs Pledge, State Houses Demand Others Follow Suit

Arizona Sen. John McCain is the first Republican presidential candidate to sign the pledge to support and fully fund restoration of the Great Lakes. McCain joins both Democratic frontrunners, Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) in making this committment. This is huge. It means that if McCain does well on Super Tuesday and wins the Republican nomination for President, we are well on the way to having the eventual presidential nominee from each party making a commitment to protect and restore the Great Lakes. That is an essential step in seeing the goals of the Great Lakes Collaboration Strategy realized Read More » »

Great Lakes State Legislators Call on Presidential Candidates to Ban Water Diversions and Restore the Great Lakes

The chorus is growing.

Today, state legislators from Super Tuesday states joined the region’s mayors, governors and U.S. Congressmen in urging Presidential candidates to restore the Great Lakes.

You can listen to an audio recording of today’s press event here

You can read the sample letter sent by the state legislators here.

You can read the press release here.

As the presidential race heats up, let’s see which candidates embrace the Great Lakes in their platform so that, hopefully, the next President will continue Read More » »