Meanwhile, the Spring City Chronicle takes on Mayor Larry Nelson for conspiring with Democrats to behave like Democrats. He also asks the not-so-fun question, what if?
The problem is, what if works both ways. If the pact fails, then we still have any governor can veto any diversion for any reason.
I understand all of the opposition to the pact and the desire for development. And yes, I'm afraid of skyrocketing water bills, although I think that will happen anyway. After all, any plan to return the water back to Lake Michigan is going to be expensive. But someone is going to have a hard time convincing me that going back to the drawing board is going to make things better.
For an opposing view,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Senator Ted Kanavas
March 6, 2008 (608) 266-9174
Kanavas Statement:
Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson Endorses Plan
That May Exclude Waukesha From Receiving Fresh Water
(Madison)…“This is not how we do things in Waukesha County.” said Senator Ted Kanavas (RBrookfield) after he learned about secret, closed door dealings between the Mayor of Waukesha and Senate Democrats who are trying to enact a version of the Great Lakes Water Compact that does very little to ensure that communities in Waukesha County will have access to drinking water in the future.
With a long tradition of broad cooperation on important issues facing Waukesha County, Waukesha County state legislators were frustrated by Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson’s lack of sound judgment after he kept legislators from Waukesha County out of the loop on private negotiations he had with Democrats in the Wisconsin State Senate.
“The Mayor made an incredibly important, non-partisan issue partisan,” said Senator Kanavas. “He decided to exclude Waukesha County legislators and negotiate with Senate Democrats, the Department of Natural Resources and Governor Doyle, to the detriment of everyone else in Waukesha County.
“The Mayor did not stop there. Before he even saw the final version of the bill, Mayor Nelson issued a statement endorsing a bill that fails to ensure the City of Waukesha will have long term access to fresh water. Democratic state senators waved the Mayor’s statement in the air during the Senate’s floor debate, using it as ammunition against Waukesha County legislators who were fighting for their constituents.
“The bill that Mayor Nelson endorsed will have a substantial impact on Waukesha County and the State of Wisconsin for the next two hundred years. Decisions about the future of Waukesha County should not be made behind closed doors, during private meetings, or during one day of debate on the floor of the State Senate, without even seeing the final version of the legislation.
“Protecting the Great Lakes is far too important to be given such short shrift. A decision of this magnitude should not be rushed through the State Senate without proper consideration. Mayor Nelson should be ashamed of himself for collaborating with the Senate Democrats to the detriment of his constituents and every other resident of Waukesha County.”
