UPDATE: Michigan LCV Education Fund Releases "Governing the Great Lakes State: An Environmental Policy Guide for Michigan's Chief Executive"

On this 40th celebration of Earth Day, Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Education Fund is joining the thousands of environmental and conservation organizations celebrating the future of a clean and sustainable environment for Michigan citizens.

Our great state is at a crossroads, with both our economy and our natural resources hanging in the balance. In order to rebuild our economy and put our world class manufacturing base back to work, Michigan must lead in the industries of the future and invest in the protection of all that defines our state: our Great Lakes and unmatched natural resources, the foundation of our state’s wealth. Michigan LCV Education Fund is here to remind our leaders in Lansing of this fact.

Today we are going straight to the top: we are providing all the candidates for our state’s highest office a guidebook outlining the intimate connection between environmental protection and economic security. We are suggesting that each of them prioritize the protection of our fantastic natural resources and the promotion of healthy Michigan communities. Today --Earth Day 2010-- marks the release our latest publication, an environmental policy guide for our next chief executive. Governing the Great Lakes State defines our state’s most pressing environmental priorities, and should serve as an ambitious but achievable agenda for Michigan’s next governor.

“We are extremely proud of Governing the Great Lakes State,” said Kerry Duggan, Michigan LCV Education Fund’s Deputy Director, “and we intend to hand deliver a copy to each of the candidates so their campaigns have a thorough guide to the challenges that are before us, and the policy solutions to address these challenges.”

Governing the Great Lakes State highlights adequate funding for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as a government-wide embrace of the state’s Environmental Justice Plan as the foundation of all environmental and public health policy moving into the future. The document also defines four priority issue areas: clean efficient energy, water protection, healthy land use and stewardship, and children’s environmental health, along with recommended administrative actions on the part of the next governor.

“In Michigan, we are facing a $920 million budget deficit, but we are still spending more than $20 billion every year importing energy resources,” said Michigan LCV Education Fund Executive Director Lisa Wozniak. “Tourism is one of our top-three revenue producers, yet our state parks are so underfunded that they need over $341 million just for basic infrastructure updates. We spend millions on our Pure Michigan ads, but our beaches are threatened by greedy developers, and industrial pollution in urban areas and toxic chemicals in our environment threaten the health of all Michiganders. It’s time to embrace a clean, efficient energy economy that will support job creation, as well as limit carbon pollution. It’s time to permanently protect from development our most beautiful wild places, so they can be enjoyed for generations to come. It’s time to walk the walk of Pure Michigan.”

Governing the Great Lakes State is intended to be a guide for the individuals campaigning for governor, as well as a resource for individuals, organizations and businesses dedicated to being part of a sustainable economic recovery. As the chief executive of the Great Lakes state, our governor must possess vision, leadership, and political will. Combined with the right policies, these values will protect our jobs, our health, and Michigan’s incredible natural resources.

You can find Governing the Great Lakes State: An Environmental Policy Guide for Michigan’s Chief Executive online at www.michiganlcvedfund.org.