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As Congress prepares to debate plans for funding the federal government through a Continuing Resolution, one of Virginia's own Congressman us using the opportunity to score political points at the detriment of Virginia's waterways. Congressman Bob Goodlatte has decided that the health of Virginia's rivers, lakes and streams is of less importance than attacking the Environmental Protection Agency.
We're not surprised to see funding for the EPA come under attack from the Republican caucus in this Continuing Resolution. Many of the people making these decisions campaigned on that very promise. What is surprising is to see one of Virginia's own Congressman Bob Goodlatte introduce an amendment to the Continuing Resolution which would withhold funding from EPA for implementing restoration policies across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Mr. Goodlatte has long called himself a friend of the Bay. He's touted his leadership in protecting the quality of life of Shenandoah Valley residents, and claimed to support clean water. This move throws all of that out the window, and shows what the Congressman truly believes.
Here's why is not surprising: Goodlatte has long railed against the EPA. In an EPA and Virginia town hall on the Chesapeake Bay TMDL four weeks prior to election day, Goodlatte stormed in the room, demanded the microphone and lambasted "federal overreach" of the EPA.
What Mr. Goodlatte's actions demonstrate is a complete disregard for the quality of life of residents across Virginia's sixth district by threatening clean water. His willingness to treat Virginia's rivers, lakes and streams as a dumping ground stands in stark contrast with the image he's painted of himself.
Let's be clear, if it were up to Bob Goodlatte there would be no safeguards on pollution entering our waterways. If he wants to couch all of this rhetoric in federal overreach and claim that he cares about the Bay then he should run for governor in 2013 and do something to restore our ailing waterways.
This blatant disregard for the EPA may score the congressman political points in the short-term, but it does nothing to help the people or economy of Virginia and will backfire in the future.
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