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Clean Wisconsin Pressroom

CLEAN WISCSONSIN STATEMENT
November 8, 2007

Contact:
    Keith Reopelle, Program Director
      (608) 251-7020 x 11 Cell (608) 212-2935
    Joyce Harms, Media Communications Director
      (608) 251-7020 x 22

Presidential candidates called on to prioritize protection of the Great Lakes

(Madison/WI) Clean Wisconsin today issued the following statement applauding and echoing Governor Doyle's message to Presidential candidates that they should be articulating a plan for how they intend to protect and restore the Great Lakes if elected President:

"The Great Lakes are the most important fresh water resource in the world and they are threatened by exotic species, toxic emissions, habitat destruction, and the potential for large scale diversions. The presidential candidates need to understand the national and international importance of the Great Lakes, and commit to placing a priority on Great Lakes water quality issues.

As Presidential candidates travel throughout the Great Lakes region, they should be aware that their support of funding for Great Lakes restoration—as well as the Great Lakes Compact—will be important to voters in the upper Midwest.

Residents throughout the Great Lakes states know what a valuable resource the lakes are to the region's economy – regardless of their political affiliation. And they will be looking to the candidates to show where they stand on protecting and restoring the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes should have a place on every presidential candidate's political platform. Without a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem, the economic engine of the Great Lakes states come to a standstill and that is something that every presidential candidate should be addressing as they travel the eight Great Lakes states.

Clean Wisconsin urges candidates to pledge their support for the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 1350, S. 791) a comprehensive plan to restore the lakes by preventing sewage contamination, stopping invasive species introductions and restoring wetlands and other habitat."

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Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin's clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and corporations accountable. Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses. On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play. Phone: 608-251-7020, Fax: 608-251-1655, Email: info@cleanwisconsin.org, Website: www.cleanwisconsin.org.