5 governors push presidential candidates to aid Great Lakes

TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. >> Five Democratic governors of states in the Great Lakes region Monday urged the candidates in next year’s presidential election to support a plan for safeguarding their shared waters by boosting federal spending on treatment plants and environmental cleanups.

Led by Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, the governors proposed a six-point platform dealing with longtime scourges such as invasive species and harmful algae blooms, as well as the emerging threat of toxic PFAS chemicals.

It also seeks to boost commercial shipping by improving ports and other infrastructure in the world’s largest freshwater network.

Whitmer told The Associated Press the plan’s release was timed to draw attention to issues affecting the lakes ahead of Democratic debates scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit. But she said the governors also hoped for support from Republican President Donald Trump.

“These are not Democratic or Republican issues,” Whitmer said.

“This is about protecting this incredibly important resource that you can’t live without.”

In addition to Whitmer, the plan drew backing from Govs. Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Tim Walz of Minnesota, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania.

Whitmer said she had contacted the region’s other three governors — Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York and Republicans Mike DeWine of Ohio and Eric Holcomb of Indiana — but they declined to sign on.

Whitmer said DeWine’s staff had provided “a lot of input” as the policy was developed, despite his reluctance to endorse it publicly.

“I simply think it’s a political concern,” Whitmer said. “I know we’ve worked very closely on those policies and that’s why I feel comfortable pushing this out. I know there is bipartisan support for this agenda.”

Spokesman Dan Tierney said DeWine “did not feel it was appropriate to sign a document that would be used to vet Democratic presidential candidates during the Democratic presidential primary,” adding that the Ohio governor “supports and appreciates President Trump’s efforts to positively impact the Great Lakes.”

He said DeWine had worked on related policy resolutions as vice chairman of the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers.

Trump’s record on Great Lakes issues is mixed. His budget plans have called for slashing or eliminating funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a multi-year program to prevent species invasions, clean up polluted harbors and river mouths, reduce nutrient runoff that feeds toxic algae and restore wildlife habitat.

Congress has consistently rejected those proposals and maintained funding at $300 million annually.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a session at the National Governor’s Association conference in Salt Lake City.