This is a high stakes moment in time for all of us who value clean air, safe drinking water and healthy communities. 2011 will be remembered as bringing some of the worst assaults on fundamental protections of our water, our air and our public health — ever. These trends lead me to believe 2012 could be even worse.

In just 10 months, the U.S. Congress has passed 170 votes on measures intended to weaken public health protections under the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Rather than support programs and policies that prevent pollution, they are encouraging pollution. Supporters of the Dirty Water proposals say these attacks are about “deregulation to create jobs and bolster our economy.” Not true. They are about increasing profits for a small number of the nation’s worst polluters. Period.

Unfortunately, the Minnesota Legislature seems to be following suit. Their efforts to weaken environmental reviews, energy policies and other environmental and health protections and to gut state agencies’ ability to enforce the law leave Minnesota vulnerable to more pollution and health harm.

Clean Water Action has been out in force making calls, knocking on doors and organizing in communities to ensure that these attacks don’t go unnoticed. Getting people informed and involved and applying direct pressure on the politicians are proving to be the best ways to stop these reckless anti-environmental actions.

We need you! Don’t sit on the sidelines and allow your elected officials to get away with doing whatever they are told by the polluters’ high paid lobbyists. Their job is to represent your best interests and to place those interests above those of the polluters. We need make sure they are held accountable for their decisions!

Our best defense is you!

Deanna White
Minnesota State Director