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2/9/2007
Please Dr. Kagen, no more fire trucks
I’m trying to keep folks up to date on our representatives’ legislative initiatives via FoxPolitics.net Press Releases. But lately, I’ve been getting lots of fire trucks! And yes, I understand that if you don’t blow your own fire horn, nobody’s going to blow it for you. That’s important stuff.
Representative Kagen, as most of our representatives, takes the advice of experienced aides that get information to the public. Wednesday’s press release, for example, about Dr. Kagen sponsoring meth lab legislation was helpful and interesting, even if Dr. Kagen is one of 122 sponsors on AR 365 (the release doesn’t tell you that part).
But some of Dr. Kagen’s press releases are starting to bug me.
In the last week there have been separate news releases about grants for the Fire Departments of Kaukauna, Boulder Junction, Allouez, Presque Isle, Green Valley, Manawa and Arbor Vitae, and then a release about money awarded to the Florence County Rescue Squad. There’s been news of a joint project between UW-Marinette and Marinette Marine. That one was ok – interesting even – and Rep. Kagen complimented the grant recipients, without taking credit for it.
Here’s one that really got to me. It was the gazillionth time I’d seen this same news report about a grant to purchase Mink River wetlands in Door County. A wonderful project. The articles all said “Congressman Steve Kagen helped secure the $1 million grant” for the Nature Conservancy in Door County to protect pristine wetland.
I’m interested in just what Dr. Kagen had to do with this grant. It was due back in June, 2006 and reviewed during the summer, with final, objective, scoring done sometime in September or October. Typical of these kinds of grants, letters of support were included in the grant packet, including a letter from Representative Mark Green.
Let’s see, when was Representative Kagen sworn in?
It’s the folks at The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service who 30 years ago began the work that is the foundation of the Mink River grant. It’s The Nature Conservancy that wrote the grant and, with the DNR, will now be implementing this important project.
According to Representative Green’s long time Chief of Staff, Mark Graul, it’s a classic thing most congressmen do – take credit for any federal dollars that come to their district. As Mark said, “[Representative Green’s] office had a strict policy not to do that – we only took credit for the things we actually did work on.”
What’s really important is that with this grant, more of the Mink River estuary will be protected in perpetuity. The estuary (an area where Mink River water mixes with Lake Michigan water) is 4 miles southeast of Ellison Bay, and is open year round, dawn to dusk. The best way to see this wetlands area is by canoe; detailed directions are provided on the Nature Conservancy’s web site. The web site also lists the wide variety of vegetation and birds that visitors should look for.
Enjoy your visit to the beauty and wisdom of the Mink River preserve. Though private land, it is yours to relish.
COMMENTS
Way to go Dr. Kagen ...politicians who run off at the mouth and lie to the public regarding "run-ins" with important people have no place in my government.
Patrick (Thu Feb 08 22:19:03 2007)
Right on, Jo. These are good things to be pointing out. How 'crazed'are our politicians to take credit for things like this when they weren't even sworn in at the time. Thanks for taking time to expose this maverick congressman. He may mature in office, but...gad-zooks! How long must we wait? Oh, my...how I wish we would have elected John Gard.
Dick Kendall (Fri Feb 09 10:52:02 2007)
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