Touché

The word is in, at least from the Mitt Romney camp – he recognizes the Great Lakes as a national treasure, but he stops short of signing the Congressional pledge for restoration. However, word on the street is that John McCain has signed the pledge. We are in the process of trying to verify this information with his campaign.

These new developments come as both candidates are pulling out all the stops to win the hearts and minds of Michigan’s Republican voters before tomorrow’s primary vote. Newspaper editorials over the past week have pleaded with the candidates to promise support for restoration. The Battle Creek Inquirer argued that support could win candidates more than Michigan – it may sway the other seven Great Lakes states as they approach Election Day – a treasure trove of 141 electoral votes that as in the past could help determine a close race.

Mitt Romney is the only candidate said to have responded to the Detroit Free Press questionnaire on the Great Lakes. National media, including the New York Times political blog, are beginning to take notice.

Romney was also forthcoming with HealthyLakes on Friday morning, telling us:

“The Great Lakes are one of our country’s national treasures. Great Lakes restoration and sustainability is important for economic development and job creation in the region. We need to be sure that the water is safe for drinking, beaches are safe for swimming, and that fish are safe for eating. We must be responsible stewards of the environment to ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit the same quality of life that we enjoy today. Our approach to being good stewards of the environment should combine new technology and implementation of common sense policies. Ideas such as this will ensure that we protect our land, air and water, while not inhibiting economic growth.”

By Friday night, Romney told a crowd that he supports the Great Lakes restoration bill that is languishing in Congress. He supports funding it and has said that although he would want to see the final bill before ultimately committing to sign it, he said he is inclined to do so. Romney took the issue one step further arguing that Great Lakes states ought to have the authority to manage the water without federal interference. So, no diversion or big national water policy that leaves the lakes low and dry.

Hooray, finally someone talking some sense! It’s now time for Romney to step up to the plate and make sure his actions match his rhetoric. Translation: sign the pledge put forward by U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.) and three other members of Congress and commit to making restoration funding a top priority of your administration. Your main rival in Michigan, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), already has. The clock is ticking!

Memo to other Republican and Democratic candidates: You’re not off the hook. Support the restoration of the Great Lakes. Side with the region’s mayors, governors, Congressional delegation, industry and conservation community. The issue is a no-brainer. I mean, who isn’t for the Great Lakes?

• Posted by Tiffany Danitz Pache on January 14th, 2008
• Tags: Candidate-for-President-2008, diverting-Great-Lakes-water, Great-Lakes-Collaboration-Implementation-Act-of-2007, Great-Lakes-Collaboration-Strategy, Great-Lakes-Congressional-Task-Force, John-McCain, Mitt-Romney, presidential-campaign, presidential-candidates, presidential-race-2008, Vernon-Ehlers, water-compact, water-diversion
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