Everglades and Big Sugar Daddies

If you get a chance, take a look at one of the op-eds in the New York Times this morning concerning the wetlands restoration project in the Florida Everglades. The Clinton administration, while short on brains in some areas, was one of the most productive allies of environmental concerns that the White House had seen since the days of Jimmy Carter. Bill had helped push through an initiative to restore the flow of fresh, clean water to the Everglades (which are drying up and dying because of water being constantly redirected to other areas of the state) which would be funded 50-50 by the Federal and Florida State governments. There was a large amount of concern that the politically powerful Florida sugar growers lobby would highjack the plan and drive even more water to their fields rather than to the national park, hence the need for Federal involvement in what would otherwise be a primarily state level issue.

Four years ago, Congress set in motion the biggest and technologically most ambitious environmental initiative in the country's history: an $8 billion project to restore the Florida Everglades, which is dying for lack of fresh water. The idea is to capture much of Florida's abundant rainfall, which is now flushed out to sea, and reroute it to Everglades National Park through a system of reservoirs, levees and canals. It's a 50-50 deal, with the federal and state governments sharing costs and governance. One important reason for Washington's involvement is to make sure that Florida, whose politicians are notoriously vulnerable to special interests, does not hijack the project and give all the water to the developers and the agricultural interests, chiefly Big Sugar.

I have to agree with the Times on this one. This is an excellent test to lay before President Bush. He talks a good game on the environment. Let's see if he can now walk the walk as well.

But intentions are one thing, and results another. So here's a test for President Bush: Match your brother's financial commitment. Essential projects are starved for federal money, so demand that money from Congress. Intervene personally if necessary. And assert your rightful place at the table. What's at stake here, after all, is a park that belongs to all Americans.