Soundkeeper Terry Backer on Connecticut's Decision to Ease Up on its Part of the Long Island Sound Cleanup: "I certainly cannot explain it."

Long Island Soundkeeper and Connecticut House member Terry Backer seems as frustrated as anyone about Connecticut’s inability to keep money in the Clean Water Fund for clean water projects. It was the Legislature’s decision, remember, to raid the Clean Water Fund that forced the DEP to propose easing up on the state’s pollution-reduction program for Long Island Sound.

Terry sent me an email over the weekend indicating that he is as baffled as anyone:

I certainly cannot explain it. It always seems to be this way -- lots of pro-environment talk but [with] the social service demands and other human resource (as if a healthy environment isn't one of them), the budget always seems to get wacked. I'll be pushing in the coming session to see that the needs of Sound and reduction programs are met.

After hearing that a handful of House members, as well as Senator Nickerson, weren’t even aware of what was happening, it’s somewhat comforting to know that the Soundkeeper is both aware of it and unhappy about it.