For immediate release

Contact: Matt Moroney, MBA Executive Director, 262.436.1122; 414.510.1560
Pat Stevens, Wisconsin Builders Association, 608.242.5155 ext. 22

The Metropolitan Builders Association and the Wisconsin Builders Association Applaud the Assembly Republican Leaders for Promoting a Strong and Fair Compact

 (Waukesha, WI) – February, 2008 – The Metropolitan Builders Association and the Wisconsin Builders Association support the Assembly’s efforts to pass a Strong and Fair Great Lakes Compact that is based on science and that removes the possibility of a single Governor of another state dictating Wisconsin’s water use decisions. 

While it is true that a great deal of time and effort has been put into the current draft of the Compact, the Assembly appropriately recognizes that the citizens of Wisconsin need a voice in what the final version of the Compact should look like.  Our organization believes that the citizens of Wisconsin desire to protect this incredible resource but in a manner that places Wisconsin as equals in water use decisions.  A few words in the current version of the Compact need to be changed to place Wisconsin on a level playing field with its neighbors.

The Compact requires the eight Great Lakes States to unanimously approve sending Great Lakes water to some communities in Wisconsin.  What is particularly troublesome is that two states, Michigan and Illinois, are granted a power to oversee some of Wisconsin’s water use decisions under the Compact, but Wisconsin has no say over any water use decisions in these two states.  These states can effectively stop Great Lakes Water to any community in Wisconsin even if it is needed for public health reasons and can do so almost unilaterally without fear of any retribution from Wisconsin.  Meanwhile, Michigan and Illinois can send water to any community in their state without the need for the Wisconsin Governor’s approval.

Other organizations note that there is currently a similar provision in federal law that requires a unanimous approval for water diversions.  Wisconsin has traditionally interpreted a diversion to be a use of Great Lake’s water without a return flow to the Great Lakes.  The Compact changes the Wisconsin definition of diversion to subject any water use across the subcontinental divide as a diversion and as a result it subjects even more water use decisions to a Governor’s review by each of the eight Great Lake States.  The unanimous approval requirement under Compact gives greater power to the Governors.

Our organization believes that Wisconsin citizens oppose being placed in a situation where the Governor of Illinois and the Governor of Michigan can dictate water use decisions in certain areas of the state of Wisconsin when the Wisconsin Governor is powerless to exercise the same oversight in these two states.

Wisconsin citizens expect a Compact that places Wisconsin as Equals.  Wisconsin citizens and businesses do not desire to be a subservient to the political whims of officials who are not even elected by Wisconsin residents on important decisions regarding a necessity of life.

Our organization will support a Compact that places Wisconsin as equals.  We see three options that can place Wisconsin as equals.  These are:

• Pass the Compact and remove Michigan’s and Illinois’s ability to veto our water use decisions.
• Pass the Compact and remove any state’s ability to veto our water use decisions.
• Pass the Compact and surgically change the requirement that all states must approve a water use decision to a majority of the states need to approve the decision.

The Assembly has chosen the last option.  Our organization applauds the Assembly for seeking to surgically repair the Compact  to protect the Great Lakes and to place Wisconsin as an equal amongst its fellow Great Lake States.

Attached is more detailed information that stresses the importance of this issue to Wisconsin.

Metropolitan Builders Association § N16 W23321 Stone Ridge Drive §  Waukesha, WI 53188 §  262.436.1122