Michigan Politics
Blackout Tests New Governor
By George Weeks

George Weeks retired last year after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.

As a presidential champion of conservation and Outdoor America, George W. Bush is no Teddy Roosevelt, whose legacy includes Yosemite and other crown jewels of a National Park Service (NPS) that now includes more than 84 million acres and four sites in Michigan.

But cheers to Bush, the least "green" president in decades, for his $2.4 billion National Park Service budget for the next fiscal year that includes what NPS Director Mary Bomar calls "the largest increase ever for park operations.…the money it takes to keep parks open for visitors."

Included are these increases in Michigan: Isle Royale National Park (established in 1931), $3,635,000 to $4,066,000; Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (1966) $1,928,000 to $2,154,000; Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (1970), $3,508,000 to $4,298,000, and Keweenaw National Historical Park (1992), $1,466,000 to $1,928,000.

An elated Superintendent Dusty Shultz of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore hailed the Bush initiative - a financial infusion that is part of an effort to ready America's parks for the 2016 Centennial of the National Park Service - as something that will help Michigan's parks have more money for seasonal employees, maintenance, and resource protection.

The initiative was touted last week in a media conference call that NPS Director Bomar and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne had with those of us who care about such matters.

I took the opportunity to ask Kempthorne about the status of Bush's declared but yet-to-bedelivered $20 billion restoration plan for the Great Lakes on habitat loss, toxic contamination, sewage overflows, and invasive species.

Having interviewed his two predecessors at Interior who trumpeted Bush's commitment to the Great Lakes, it seemed timely to use the occasion to ask the current secretary about funding for the Great Lakes.

Kempthorne gave me what he called "an IOU" on the subject, which as of this writing I have sought but not collected.

Associated Press Environmental Writer John Flesher last week reported that a coalition of 80 organizations supporting the $20 billion plan said the Bush budget shortchanges the broad effort to restore the ecosystem.

The good news for the Great Lakes is that the Bush budget has $7.6 million to complete an electronic barrier to keep the aggressive Asian carp (they leap into small boats and smack occupants) from getting into Lake Michigan from the Mississippi River.

Among northern Michigan priorities in the Bush budget are funds to dredge Marquette Harbor and Ontonagon Harbor. But Representative Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), joined by 11 other congressmen including Republicans Pete Hoekstra of Holland and Dave Camp of Midland, complained to relevant congressional committee chairs that "the Army Corps of Engineers has not treated our harbors fairly, and this needs to change."

Economic Trump Card: Tourism

Late in her first term, Governor Jennifer Granholm began to recognize the importance of increasing spending for promoting Michigan tourism.

Now, as she begins her second and final term, she vowed in her State of the State Address Michigan will advertise across the country, telling "business executives and travelers that Michigan is the place to be, and we will do it more aggressively than Michigan has ever done in its history. Tell them, and they will come."

President Steve Yencich of the Michigan Hotel, Motel & Resort Association said: "This is a governor that clearly understands the important role tourism plays in our economy …Studies indicate that every dollar invested produces around $3 in tax receipts to the state."

Getting more tax receipts currently is Job One for Granholm.

He's Back

Gilbert L. Ziegler, president of Alken-Ziegler in Kalkaska, served as a 1993-2000 appointee of Republican Governor John Engler to the board of trustees of Northern Michigan University (NMU), where he earlier earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and economics.

He also was the 1994 1st Congressional Republican challenger of Democrat Stupak, losing 121,433-89,660.

Last year, Ziegler chaired Republicans for re-election of Democrat Granholm, who last week named him to another term on the NMU board, replacing Larry Inman of Williamsburg.

Granholm also appointed ex- Representative Stephen F. Adamini (D-Marquette), a former NMU faculty member, to the board, replacing Karl A. Weber of Marquette.