A behind-the-scenes political friend once
told me, “Iowans
eat their young when it comes to politics.”
Vilsack didn’t get as far as we’d
like in his environmental efforts, but he worked with a Republican legislature
his entire tenure. Our former Governor, for example, vetoed legislation
enacted by the statehouse that would have disbanded the EPC after the fishable
/ swimmable regulations. He appointed EPC commissioners who were
decidedly in favor of more water quality regulation. He hired Jeff Vonk
and gave him leeway to seek enforcement measures against CAFOs. OK, the Power
Fund was nothing but corporate welfare, and biotech is absolutely a
double-edged sword, but that was what all the states were doing at the
time.
Has anybody paid attention to the job
performance of our present Governor? Could anybody seriously question
that Culver is absolutely in bed with the Farm Bureau? Vilsack never embarrassed
himself the way the Big Lug doesn’t even understand it’s wrong to
hold government meetings at Farm Bureau headquarters.
Why don’t we start congratulating our
former Governor instead of criticizing him? Vilsack will be making
appointments of assistant secretaries, on down. We are wasting an
incredible chance for access and influence if Iowa Sierrans continue to eat
their young.
Donna Buell
Vilsack appointee to the Environmental Protection
Commission 2003-2007
From: Iowa Discussion,
Alerts and Announcements [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Phyllis Mains
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008
6:16 AM
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Fwd: Sierra Club
Praises Nominations for Interior, Agriculture
So much for the official Sierra Club Response to Obama's environmental
choices. For me personally I feel Hope
goes up in Smoke! Phyllis