NOAA facts forum - part 4 - Mike Friis

This is Mike Friis, the Program Manager and Public Access Coordinator, Wetland Protection and Land Use Planning Coordinator, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Madison, WI He is very earnest and makes it sound as though he is representing the State of WI. He is working for what sounds like a state agency- right? He says he is accountable to the state government. However this press release from 2016 clearly states that the coastal management program is federally funded. Hmmmm. The press release is talking about a 2.3 million dollar grant. A grant from where? A grant from whom?.

"The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program balances natural resource protection and sustainable
economic development along Wisconsin's Great Lakes coasts. The program awards federal funds from the Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives."(emphasis mine)

Efforts have been made by those who oppose the sanctuary to convince Governor Walker to oppose it as well. He has refused. On August 10 of this year, Governor Walker made this announcement:
"Governor Scott Walker announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded Wisconsin a three-year $840,000 Coastal Resilience Grant to help Lake Michigan communities and property owners in Southeastern Wisconsin reduce damages from coastal hazards and sustain the operation of their coastal economic assets. The grant entitled “Improving Economic Security in Coastal Wisconsin” will be awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program."

One can understand the Governor's wish to be fiscally responsible and to avoid burdening the taxpayers of the state but again, the pockets of the taxpayers are not bottomless and this nation is trillions of dollars in debt. Why should the people of the entire nation be on the hook for protecting our resources? And, if we cannot, and if these resources are so important to the nation as a whole then why should the state be required to relinquish any of our sovereignty to obtain federal funds? Are we not American citizens paying into those coffers as well as our own?
The question of whether or not this should even be a pressing need in a nation so far in debt should also be addressed at some point. Yes, this is a wonderful idea, but is it a responsible use of tax dollars?

 This blog has also posted video from a meeting held in March to organize some opposition to the proposed sanctuary. (Which was the first time this author had heard about it even though the process has apparently been going on for some years.) That video may be found here.

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."~ Matt 6:24