Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is calling for a $5 billion trust fund for Great Lakes cleanup and restoration as he focuses on states critical to winning the White House.

The fund, to be phased in over 10 years, would be the centerpiece of a plan that also calls for a coordinator to oversee Greats Lakes programs and would step up the fight against invasive species.

Obama's campaign announced the plan in a telephone conference call featuring Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors.

They said the Democratic nominee had sponsored legislation supporting Great Lakes cleanup and was more familiar with the issues than his Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

"What we have seen from Sen. McCain is what we have seen from President Bush a few nice comments during the presidential election ... and nothing to back it up," Doyle said.

McCain spokeswoman Sarah Lenti said: "The Obama solution like always, throws taxpayers' money at the problem sometimes money that has not even been requested but he has no record or experience at solving problems by going across party lines."

Obama's trust fund would be paid for by rolling back tax breaks for oil companies, his campaign said. It would support projects such as sewage system repairs, cleanup of sediments contaminated by toxic chemicals, and restoration of wetlands and wildlife habitat.

The Great Lakes coordinator, based in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would help develop a priority list from a host of federal, state and local initiatives.

Obama also pledged to reduce toxic pollution in the lakes, which make up nearly one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water. Another priority would be strengthening federal standards against mercury, a leading Great Lakes contaminant.

The plan promises a more aggressive effort to prevent additional exotic species from reaching the lakes, particularly the Asian carp, which has infested the Mississippi River and is moving toward Lake Michigan.

President Bush established a Great Lakes restoration task force while running for re-election in 2004. The panel recommended a wide-ranging, $20 billion plan, but the president's budgets have included little of that money.

Bush recommended a 16 percent cut for Great Lakes water quality programs this year. Obama's supporters said McCain would continue the Bush approach.

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Bendontbreak (4)
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posted 65 days, 13 hours, 17 minutes ago
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"Obama's trust fund would be paid for by rolling back tax breaks for oil companies, his campaign said."

Pleeaaase people. This is a sincere request for 120 seconds of your attention. I'm not throwing dirt, and if you want to flame me, go ahead, but hear is my request.

Please consider the following and answer the question. When tax breaks are rolled back, it is a defacto tax increase. When the taxes are raised, the companies will raise their prices to keep their profit MARGINS the same (in the case of oil, it's 8-10%). When they raise their prices, this becomes a defacto tax increase on the American public. Unless you want the gov't to take control of the oil companies this is how it will work. Does it matter whether we pay for it directly through the gov't, or through higher prices, isn't it still a tax on the general public and not the corporations?

"Obama's trust fund would be paid for by rolling back tax breaks for oil companies, his campaign said."

Pleeaaase people. This is a sincere request for 120 seconds of your attention. I'm not throwing dirt, and if you want to flame me, go ahead, but hear is my request.

Please consider the following and answer the question. When tax breaks are rolled back, it is a defacto tax increase. When the taxes are raised, the companies will raise their prices to keep their profit MARGINS the same (in the case of oil, it's 8-10%). When they raise their prices, this becomes a defacto tax increase on the American public. Unless you want the gov't to take control of the oil companies this is how it will work. Does it matter whether we pay for it directly through the gov't, or through higher prices, isn't it still a tax on the general public and not the corporations?