John Mica Hearts Water Pollution

Rep. John Mica is the sponsor of the Clean Water for Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011. What the bill does is strips the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate clean water standards. Mica is doing this under the pretense of state rights.

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to preserve the authority of each State to make determinations relating to the State’s water quality standards, and for other purposes.

Clean Water for Cooperative Federalism Act passed in the House of Representatives.

As it is written, the bill would roll back several provisions of the Clean Water Act, and essentially bans the EPA from noting whether or not a proposed project would be detrimental to lakes, streams or wetlands. The bill would also significantly impact the agency’s ability to comment on federal permits affecting water quality or public health.

Mica's bill will probably never get a vote. I don't say that because I am confident that Senate Democrats will stand up for environmental rights. The current Senate is so dysfunctional that nothing gets passed. Even when there is bipartisan consensus, Sen. Jim DeMint will place a hold on a bill.

Mica's bill does point out how radical the Republican Party has become on environmental protection. The GOP is no longer the conservationist party of Teddy Roosevelt.