Great Lakes /trump

[Beepum19]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A group representing Great Lakes region mayors in the U.S. and Canada is sounding the alarm against potentially drastic cuts to an ecological recovery initiative for the Great Lakes.

The Trump administration's potential cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative were reported by the Detroit Free Press last week. They would slash annual funding for the $300 million program to $10 million.


The initiative combats invasive species, curbs nutrient-fueled algae blooms, cleans up toxic messes and restores sensitive fish and wildlife habitat.

"Cuts of this magnitude would be devastating to the efforts of our two countries over the past five decades to restore the resource," David Ullrich, executive director of The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for a story published Sunday (http://bit.ly/2mIox0n ). His group represents mayors from more than 125 U.S. and Canadian cities in the Great Lakes basin.

Ullrich said the cuts would also undermine all of the lake restoration and protection efforts underway by local governments, which are collectively far more significant than the federal restoration initiative launched by the Obama administration in 2010.

"Local governments have been investing at over $15 billion per year ... well beyond the federal governments' investments," Ullrich said, "and this would be a major step back from the responsibility shared for this resource."

Conservation groups have also criticized the potential cuts.

"Great Lakes protection is not a partisan issue. No matter how different our backgrounds, Great Lakers value clean water," the Alliance for the Great Lakes said in a statement Friday. "For decades, people of all political affiliations from all corners of the region, have consistently shown strong support for protecting the Great Lakes. And, some of the most critical programs and regulations targeted by President Trump's proposed cuts have been supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle."

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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com

[rubycat16]

I would hope that political position papers be discouraged from this forum. Regardless of how we might feel about these issues, it is still not the place for such. Talking politics is a taboo on my boat for a good reason. I bet I am not alone in thinking this way.

[forefathers]

I would hope that political position papers be discouraged from this forum. Regardless of how we might feel about these issues, it is still not the place for such. Talking politics is a taboo on my boat for a good reason. I bet I am not alone in thinking this way.

You do have the option of not opening this thread.

[Bggeary]

Michigan Sportsman forum already has 9 pages with 15 posts ea page on this already. They hate the laker program up there. I'm done.

[West Basin]

I don't blame people for being alarmed, at first. It sounds like a major change in how government functions, a big cut in operational funds. But we shouldn't fall victim to the hysteria that almost always happens when proposed budgets are first announced.

One thing we should all remember is these are Proposals. They are not a final budget. Congress will hash it out [maybe? :-)]. We all know politicians are not likely to do something the majority of their constituents are against.

I think it's best to keep an eye on this, watch, wait, and learn. No matter how you feel about it we need to at least take a serious look at how the funds are being allocated and spent. Every organization, from a single family to the Federal Government, needs to review their operation now and then in order to make changes to get the most out of their funds.

Meanwhile, I would suggest we all look to our own communities and our own actions. We can do our share by doing the immediate things, like making sure your boat doesn't discharge oils and other pollutants. Use a leader so when the line breaks you don't leave 30 yds of line on the bottom. Respecting the environmental laws and wildlife laws. And most important - take a kid or someone who never has of hasn't in a long time out fishing. If we don't at least replace ourselves in the recreation, there won't be a major voice in the future for conservation.

[wakina]

I don't blame people for being alarmed, at first. It sounds like a major change in how government functions, a big cut in operational funds. But we shouldn't fall victim to the hysteria that almost always happens when proposed budgets are first announced.

One thing we should all remember is these are Proposals. They are not a final budget. Congress will hash it out [maybe? :-)]. We all know politicians are not likely to do something the majority of their constituents are against.

I think it's best to keep an eye on this, watch, wait, and learn. No matter how you feel about it we need to at least take a serious look at how the funds are being allocated and spent. Every organization, from a single family to the Federal Government, needs to review their operation now and then in order to make changes to get the most out of their funds.

Meanwhile, I would suggest we all look to our own communities and our own actions. We can do our share by doing the immediate things, like making sure your boat doesn't discharge oils and other pollutants. Use a leader so when the line breaks you don't leave 30 yds of line on the bottom. Respecting the environmental laws and wildlife laws. And most important - take a kid or someone who never has of hasn't in a long time out fishing. If we don't at least replace ourselves in the recreation, there won't be a major voice in the future for conservation.

You can't wait until they cut the funds to ***** about it. The time to take action is now while in the preliminary stages of this possible budget cut. Closing the gate after the horse is out is and has always been a losing strategy. Everyone who cares needs to contact their congressional representative NOW before it's to late.

[Beepum19]

I posted the article for people to be aware. I could care less about politics. I care about the future of the lake we fish and surrounding Great Lakes. Sorry for offending you and others who have taken time to read this article

[Bggeary]

I posted the article for people to be aware. I could care less about politics. I care about the future of the lake we fish and surrounding Great Lakes. Sorry for offending you and others who have taken time to read this article

It's cool Bee.

[LEfriend]

Thanks for posting. We all need to be informed of issues affecting our fishery and its protection

[Jimbo]

I don't know much about the gil nets, but if you see one in American waters can you cut them or damage them in any way?