Jan 21, 2016
Veto of WOTUS measure sends water issue to courts

As expected, President Obama vetoed S.J. Res. 22 this week, a resolution recently passed by both congressional chambers to show disapproval of the massive overreach by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.

“The president’s veto, and lack of a viable legislative solution, now leaves the WOTUS issue in the hands of federal courts,” said Laura Campbell, Michigan Farm Bureau’s agricultural ecology department manager.

The U.S. House approved the resolution earlier this month on a 253-166 vote, and likewise, the U.S. Senate passed the resolution on a 53-44 vote last November.

In his official veto statement, the president called the rule, “critical to our efforts to protect the Nation’s waters and keep them clean.”

He added, “We must protect the waters that are vital for the health of our communities and the success of our businesses, agriculture, and energy development. As I have noted before, too many of our waters have been left vulnerable. Pollution from upstream sources ends up in the rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters near which most Americans live and on which they depend for their drinking water, recreation, and economic development. Clarifying the scope of the Clean Water Act helps to protect these resources and safeguard public health.”

Look for more updates on this issue on the Michigan Farm Bureau WOTUS issue web page.




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