WI won't showcase diversions, FUBAR climate policies, at Great Lakes session

What luck!

The Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission has opened in Indianapolis, a reasonable drive from Madison, giving Wisconsin's representative or delegation a chance to update all the member states and Canadian provinces on two of Wisconsin's five Lake Michigan diversions.

Like the one recently fast-tracked for Foxconn. Here is a full Foxconn archive.

And an earlier one authorized for Pleasant Prairie that somehow grew larger than what was first approved without the full consent of the Governors at the time.

Wisconsin could also update the others about how its climate change denial and cutbacks in science staffing fed right into this summer's flooding that seemed to have caught the state off-guard or disinterested.

I did check the Commission agenda, but found no Wisconsin presentation, but it could go with this 8"35 a.m. session Wednesday:

FEMA: Emerging Thoughts on Pre-Disaster Preparedness/Resiliency Planning in the Great Lakes Region

There's still time for Walker to jump on the state plane and get there. 

He's got a big story to tell - - details, here - - about the skyrocketing numbers of polluted Wisconsin waterways during Walker's tenure that flow into the Great Lakes, the tens of thousands of wetland acres recently opened for donors and development, and groundwater running brown near expanding, less-regulated CAFOs.

Swamp update: Six best stories making GOP proud today

In case they missed them:

North Carolina banned sea level rise science

Trump administration diverted $10 million from FEMA to ICE for migrant detention program

Trump disputes Puerto Rico storm death toll, blames Democrats

Number of migrant children in detention has skyrocketed to highest levels ever

Paul Ryan says Wisconsin businesses should be patient with Trump tariffs

The federal deficit now projected to top $1 trillion this year

Public facility damage in Dane Co. key to Fed. recovery aid

I note that preliminary damage estimates from recent Madison-area flooding top $100 million, with roughly a third tied to public asset losses.

I'd been tracking and posting these events all week, here.

And the probability of more rain and fresh damage only adds to the stresses county-wide, including whether what is clearly a major disaster in southern Wisconsin will meet enough federal criteria to release welcome financial assistance and spur immediate and lasting reconstruction.

If I remember how disaster accounting took place after flooding in Milwaukee when I worked for Mayor John Norquist in the late '90's, the county was in charge of gathering local municipalities' damage assessments, with final federal evaluations and federal aid decisions taking weeks, at a minimum.

What was critical to the release of federal aid was the extent of damage to common facilities, like roads, bridges or other public infrastructure or material, with the possibility that assistance might be provided, but not necessarily aimed at individual homeowners or businesses. 

I read FEMA's standards and rules here; basically, the feds assess the damage estimates which they receive from state and local officials and may make a range of declarations which can release various levels of assistance. Or FEMA can decide that recovery is within the ability of state, municipal and individual claimants to absorb. 

There's no magic dollar threshold that releases federal aid, and there is the possibility of a federal finding that will be disappointing to some; for example, individual property owners who find themselves eligible for low-interest federal loans may lack the ability to take on more debt. 

So critical factors are the various forms of insurance or aptly-named 'rainy day' resources at hand, and the bottom-line damage estimates passed up the chain of command to FEMA, particularly with regard to public property - - roads, bridges, etc. - - because those are commonly-purchased assets and their sudden loss has widespread consequence the wider and longer their reach.

I repeat again that this is the time when public service work is so obviously crucial, as it is when the floodlights are not brightly lit.

Final thought.

Federal disaster declarations and the release of dollars are not supposed to be political processes. All the preparatory work at FEMA will be done by civil servants, and some perhaps by consultants, but ultimately, the final determinations are made by political appointees.

It would obviously help if there were good relationships among the state and federal officials most-intimately involved, but to me it is not clear what baseline political messages Walker and Trump care to highlight right now on issues like the role of government, the sufficiency of state resources, let alone the engagement of Trump's White House and its priorities.

The best way I think to sum up the road ahead is that it should not be political, anything can be. 

When will Trump Tweet proof he's a two-sport dilettante?

[Updated] Oh, look - - college hoops, and a scandal!

How long before Trump shows us via Twitter that he can manipulate that new presidential irrelevancy as a juicy distracting opportunity away from his racist war with black athletes, plus bad poll numbers and Puerto Rico's suffering to prove he's a two-sport dilettante?

I'll monitor his Twitter feed - - and here's Trump at his 'not many people know that best' - - 

The Hill‏Verified account @thehill  13m13 minutes ago

Trump on difficulty of delivering aid to Puerto Rico: It's in the middle of a "very big ocean" http://hill.cm/UyEYddJ 

115 replies65 retweets43 likes

where earlier he'd returned to his NFL obsession while basically blaming Puerto Rico for its desperate, post-hurricane situation:

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  4h4 hours ago4 hours agoMore The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations. The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can't kneel during our National Anthem!

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  6h6 hours ago6 hours agoMore But while Dallas dropped to its knees as a team, they all stood up for our National Anthem. Big progress being made-we all love our country!

1. Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  16h16 hours ago
   

   ...owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities - and doing well. #FEMA
2. Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  16h16 hours ago
   

   ...It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars....

   9,501 replies7,997 retweets36,101 likes

   
   

    
   

    
   

    
   
3. Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  16h16 hours ago
   

   Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble..
   
   

Wisconsin's natural disaster planning questioned

The Natural Resources Defense Council sent out this email notice today about states' emergency preparedness, the relationship of such plans to climate change, and federal financing.

Wisconsin - - and note also from the NRDC the rather gloomy prediction of a strong state plan emerging from the Walker administration - - is specifically referenced:

Governments of three states – Maryland, Wisconsin, and Wyoming – and one territory – Puerto Rico – are currently drafting plans to help keep citizens, property and infrastructure as safe as possible the next time a natural disaster (blizzard, anyone?) strikes. These plans are important.

They help the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identify how to best allocate millions of dollars in pre-disaster mitigation funding. And for the first time ever, the four plans scheduled to be submitted to FEMA in 2016 must include expected impacts from climate change.

As plans are being drafted, we encourage you to check in on their progress. What will Maryland say about blizzards? How will flooding affect Wisconsin? Is Wyoming properly accounting for climate change? What about sea-level rise Puerto Rico?

I've noted several times on this blog that Wisconsin these days shows little official interest in climate change. Here is one recent summary posting:

Gov. Walker's corporate-friendly Department of Natural Resources has scrubbed virtually every link and word about climate change from what had been a very useful and comprehensive web page - - noted often on this blog back to 2012 - - and the agency is poised to undergo another round of budget and personnel cuts aimed by Walker at scientific research, policy-making and field work. 

Wisconsin's forests and the wetlands and waters they protect are vulnerable to a changing climate's drought, rising temperatures and disruptive, heavier rain events: the state's agricultural and tourism sectors can prosper only with the best science available - - regrettably not a current administration priority. 

Walker's DNR is giving but a cursory official look at a cross-state tar sand oil pipeline from the Canadian north that will enable the shipment of far more tar sand oil daily than is envisioned for the higher-profile Keystone XL - - a look being managed without a comprehensive environmental review of the route. 

Walker is also coordinating opposition by his Public Service Commission and the Attorney General to new clean air greenhouse emission rules proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and Walker signed a public pledge sought by the Koch brothers opposing governmental actions against climate change.

How Some Of Wisconsin's Surplus (Or More Regular Dollars) Should Be Invested

There are plenty of potholes on roads statewide right now that are sinkholes-in-waiting, and you don't have to be a road engineer to know that when all this snow and ice finally melt some potholes will need their own DNR environmental impact statements.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has listed the infrastructure in Wisconsin that needs fixing. 

These caught my eye:

Driving on roads in need of repair costs Wisconsin motorists $1.147 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $281 per motorist.

71% of Wisconsin’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition.

1,157 of the 14,057 bridges in Wisconsin (8.2%) are considered structurally deficient. 

779 of the 14,057 bridges in Wisconsin (5.5%) are considered functionally obsolete.

Keep these numbers in mind as you watch the Governor and Legislature walk away from these needs, and if you see something on the list you think the state should be funding with surplus dollars, call your legislator. Today.

:

Wisconsin Key Facts:

Water and Environment

DAMS

• Wisconsin’s dam safety program has 6.25 Full-Time Employees that each oversee an average of 152.5 state regulated dams.
• Wisconsin has 252 high hazard dams.
• 70% of the state regulated dams in Wisconsin have an Emergency Action Plan.
• Wisconsin’s state dam safety program has an annual budget of $752,000.

DRINKING WATER

• Wisconsin has reported $6.2 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

• Wisconsin has 38 sites on the National Priorities List.

LEVEES

• Wisconsin has approximately 134 miles of levees according to the current FEMA Midterm Levee Inventory.

WASTEWATER

• Wisconsin has reported $6.4 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years.

Transportation

AVIATION

• There are 133 public-use airports in Wisconsin.

BRIDGES

• 1,157 of the 14,057 bridges in Wisconsin (8.2%) are considered structurally deficient.
• 779 of the 14,057 bridges in Wisconsin (5.5%) are considered functionally obsolete.
• Wisconsin received $18.3 million from the Federal Highway Bridge Fund in FY2011.

INLAND WATERWAYS

• Wisconsin has 230 miles of inland waterways, ranking it 29th in the nation.

PORTS

• Wisconsin’s ports handled 30.6 million short tons of cargo in 2009, ranking it 22nd in the nation.

RAIL

• Wisconsin has 8 freight railroads covering 3,387 miles across the state, ranking it 14th by mileage.

ROADS

• Driving on roads in need of repair costs Wisconsin motorists $1.147 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $281 per motorist.
• 71% of Wisconsin’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
• Wisconsin has 114,843 public road miles.
• Wisconsin’s highway vehicle-miles traveled in 2009 was approximately 10,440 per capita, ranking it 22nd in the nation.
• Wisconsin’s gas tax of 32.9 cents per gallon has not been increased in 6 years.

TRANSIT

• Wisconsin has 70,074 annual unlinked passenger trips via transit systems – motor bus, heavy rail, light rail, and commuter rail.

Public Facilities

PARKS AND RECREATION

• Wisconsin has reported an unmet need of $53.2 million for its parks system.

SCHOOLS

• Public school districts in Wisconsin spent a total of $1.5 billion on capital outlays for school construction and acquisition of land and existing structures in fiscal years 2005–2008.
• It is estimated that Wisconsin schools have $4.4 billion in infrastructure funding needs.

Energy

• Wisconsin produces 4.586 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy every year, ranking it 27th.

Oklahoma Senators Opposed Storm Relief Funding, Programs

The policy-makers whose records on disaster relief should be ignored when speeding disaster relief to Oklahoma belong to its two US Senators:

Both of the state’s senators, Sen. James Inhofe (R) and Coburn, however, have long worked to undermine the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even though their state heavily relies on disaster aid: 

– In September 2011, Coburn offered an amendment to offset $6.9 billion in FEMA funding. 

– Coburn voted in 2011 against funding FEMA after it ran out of money, because, in his words, funding FEMA would have been “unconscionable.” Inhofe did not vote. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid fired back at Republicans blocking a bill for necessary funding to FEMA. 

– Inhofe proposed removing grants for storm shelter programs coordinating with FEMA, and instead provide individuals with tax breaks. 

– Coburn criticized items in Sandy disaster relief such as $12.9 billion for disaster mitigiation and $366 million for Amtrak as “wasteful spending.” 

– After Hurricane Sandy, Inhofe and Coburn voted against a bill for $50.5 billion in Hurrican Sandy disaster relief. 

– Coburn demanded that $5.25 billion in FEMA grant funds bereallocated because of sequestration in April 2013. 

Help their constituents, but disregard the failed leadership of their empathy-free Senators.

Romney Ducks FEMA Questions

Campaigns do reveal the candidates, as Romney self-deports from campaign and leadership credibility:

From the Romney pool report:

TV pool asked Romney at least five times whether he would eliminate FEMA as president/what he would do with FEMA. He ignored the qs but they are audible on cam. The music stopped at points and the qs would have been audible to him.

A follow-up report noted the specific questions Romney ignored, as he was collecting hurricane supplies following his event:

"Gov are you going to eliminate FEMA?" a print pooler shouted, receiving no response. Wires reporters asked more questions about FEMA that were ignored.
Romney kept coming over near pool to pick up more water. He ignored these questions:
"Gov are you going to see some storm damage?"
"Gov has [New Jersey Gov.] Chris Christie invited you to come survey storm damage?"
"Gov you've been asked 14 times, why are you refusing to answer the question?"

During a GOP primary debate last year, Romney had said he supported the idea of states and private sector groups taking over responsibility for disaster relief.

Anybody, Post-Sandy, For Smaller Government Today? Out East?

Why have anti-government/small-government/public employee-bashing conservatives gone so silent today?

How does the Tea Party-obeisant and FEMA-opponent Mitt Romney, with ideological sidekick and shiny object Paul Ryan in tow, even dare show that campaign's face between now and Nov. 6th?

Repent, Ye East Coast Sinners

Mitt Romney, replying to a 2011 debate question about federal borrowing for FEMA disaster spending after the Joplin tornado, called more borrowing "immoral."

House Republicans have cut such spending, and the Ryan budget, which Romney endorsed, calls for cuts to FEMA.

The debate, on CNN, was moderated by John King:

KING: Governor Romney? You’ve been a chief executive of a state. I was just in Joplin, Missouri. I’ve been in Mississippi and Louisiana and Tennessee and other communities dealing with whether it’s the tornadoes, the flooding, and worse. FEMA is about to run out of money, and there are some people who say do it on a case-by-case basis and some people who say, you know, maybe we’re learning a lesson here that the states should take on more of this role. How do you deal with something like that?

ROMNEY: Absolutely. Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that’s the right direction. And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better.
Instead of thinking in the federal budget, what we should cut — we should ask ourselves the opposite question. What should we keep? We should take all of what we’re doing at the federal level and say, what are the things we’re doing that we don’t have to do? And those things we’ve got to stop doing, because we’re borrowing $1.6 trillion more this year than we’re taking in. We cannot…

KING: Including disaster relief, though?

ROMNEY: We cannot — we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids. It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we’ll all be dead and gone before it’s paid off. It makes no sense at all.