-

House GOP says it will keep its promise to provide Chesapeake Bay money

Date published: 1/26/2006

By CHELYEN DAVIS

RICHMOND--Last year, legislators promised to devote $50 million a year for 10 years to Chesapeake Bay cleanup.

Yesterday, House Republicans said they'll put $200 million of that upfront in next year's budget, and are pushing legislation that would add oversight to how that money is being spent.

House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, and several House Republicans held a press conference to reaffirm their commitment to improving point source and nonpoint source pollution in the bay. Point source pollutants are things like wastewater treatment facilities; nonpoint source pollutants cover things like fertilizer run-off from farms. The state money would help upgrade treatment plants so they pollute less.

The $200 million in the first year of the biennial budget will come from surplus money, legislators said. The money is essentially the same as former Gov. Mark Warner put in the budget he proposed prior to leaving office.

Howell and others emphasized that using surplus money keeps them from paying for the upgrades by imposing a "flush tax" or other tax on Virginians.

The money will be used to accelerate improvements to water treatment facilities and other things that contribute to water pollution.

Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William, is sponsoring legislation that would require a detailed strategic plan on what that money is spent on and the pace at which the point source and nonpoint source cleanup is going.

It also requires quarterly reports on those matters to be given to the chairman of the legislative money committees and the committees that deal with agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay.

Measuring results, Howell said, is the only way for officials to make sure they're accomplishing what they mean to.

"The public confidence must be there as we orchestrate this complex body of work," Lingamfelter said. "We take our responsibility as the people's House very seriously. We have a plan to get there, and the commitment and the ability to keep the promises we've made."

Ann Jennings, Virginia executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, praised the commitment to putting $200 million into bay cleanup.

"This funding is critical in addressing the immediate needs," she said.

To reach CHELYEN DAVIS: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com

Date published: 1/26/2006