Doyle might resort to special session to pass water compact

By PATRICK MARLEY and DARRYL ENRIQUEZ
pmarley@journalsentinel.com

Posted: March 12, 2008

Gov. Jim Doyle urged lawmakers to pass the Great Lakes compact before they adjourn Thursday but said he would call a special session after that if necessary.

Water Debate

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"I'd call them into a special session in a second to get this done," Doyle said during a Capitol news conference Tuesday as lawmakers from both parties stood behind him.

But, Doyle added, "I don't want the special session to be a way that we don't get this done (now)."

Doyle's comments came hours before Assembly Democrats tried to force a vote on the compact, but that effort failed on a party-line vote.

The compact of eight states and two Canadian provinces was developed to protect the lakes from large water diversions to faraway states and promote conservation in the Great Lakes basin.

Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson told members of the Assembly on Tuesday that the city needs the compact approved to consider seeking Lake Michigan water but recognized that passage this week is unlikely.

"I am under no illusions that the compact and its implementing language can be finally resolved this week in regular session," Nelson testified Tuesday.

Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) called the attempt to force a vote a last-ditch effort to pass the compact this session, saying there is no guarantee of a special session.

"We are literally one act of Congress or one bad court decision away from those lakes having no protection at all," Richards said on the floor.

But Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) said there is no way the Assembly will vote on the matter before Thursday, though it could be ready to vote within a few weeks in a special session.

He said the Senate acted prematurely when it passed the measure last week.

"It wasn't ready then. It's not ready now," he said. Lawmakers must take time with the bill because it is "probably the most important legislation we will ever pass as long as I'm here."

Doyle said passage of the compact is critical to all areas of the state, including thirsty communities in Waukesha County and elsewhere on the edge of the Great Lakes basin.

"Businesses are going to be looking to places where water is plentiful," he said. "It is the resource that in the long run is going to determine our economic future."

Waukesha County Republican legislators are wary, concerned that the compact is not in the best economic interests of the county, and they encouraged a thorough understanding of the compact and the time it takes to get that accomplished.

Doyle called their arguments specious, saying the compact would offer Waukesha and other communities more protections than they have now.

Nelson said the Waukesha water problem is worsening. The city draws from a deep underground source that has elevated levels of naturally occurring radium and is under a mandate to provide cleaner water.

"We have pulled up groundwater with contaminants so high that it is essentially salt water. . . . It is time to end our use of the deep aquifer and to allow it to recover," he said.

Although city officials have not formally decided to pursue Lake Michigan water, city consultants have said it would be the best option. Their other choice is to develop a new well field in the water-rich aquifer in western Waukesha County.

The city will spend $13 million to bring drinking water within federal safe water standards for radium. During summer, when water use is heaviest, drinking water exceeds safety standards for acceptable radium levels.

Patrick Marley reported from Madison, and Darryl Enriquez reported from Waukesha. Stacy Forster of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report from Madison.