The August recess has come to an end.  That means we are once again called to actiion.  As grassroots activists we need to be on our toes and paying attention to ALL that will be happening in the committees.  We anticipate the House of Representatives to bring forth their bill as a companion bill to S.787.  We expect Rep. Oberstar to re-introduce the bill that he has championed in the past. 

We need to let our representatives know that we do NOT support this bill. 

There is a simple solution, we need to empower people and communities at the local level will lead to more common-sense and less expensive solutions to water quality and other environmental problems.  "We do not need more power and control concentrated in Washington, D.C.," said Parmeter.  "It's time to trust local people and start governing from the bottom up, instead of from the top down."  According to McDonald, it's important to start focusing on our local communities across the country.  "Giving the federal government the kind of control recommended in this bill would be a major barrier to that effort." she said.  "This bill is not about clean water, it's about top-down power and control," she added. 

Don is on his way back to DC to meet with legislators and leaders to talk about another way to enforce "clean Water" in our waterways.  We are gaining suppport from our members in NACo.

Don & I believe that the key to a solution on this issue is a viable, grassroots effort that will allow people and local officials to empower themselves.  They say that this can be done through formal and informal arrangements among counties and other local units of government, and can be applied virtually anywhere in the country.  They emphasize that federal authority and federal legislation is not necessary or appropriate to make this happen.  "I think most people are tired of Washington D.C. solutions to problems," said McDonald.  "It's time for a community-based approach," she added.  Parmeter said "The Ivory Tower approach doesn't work.  The best solutions come from people who live in or visit an area and are familiar with the natural resources of that area."