Congressman Seeks to Expand EPA's Control of Water

A Democratic congressman is seeking to strip the word "navigable" from the 1972 Clean Water Act to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to surpass the limits imposed by a 2001 Supreme Court ruling on the kinds of waterways the agency can regulate. That word typically is interpreted to refer to any body of water that is "deep enough and wide enough to afford passage to ships." But Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., who worked on the 1972 legislation as a Capitol Hill staff member, said he is trying to restore the original intent of the law. "I know what it means and it says the purpose of this act is to establish and maintain the chemical, biological and physical integrity of the nation's waters," Oberstar said. Some Republican advocates of land rights are wary, fearing that striking the word "navigable" from the Clean Water Act will bring every lake, pond, creek or mud hole under the EPA's control. "It potentially puts government in charge of all waters, including mud puddles, irrigation ditches," said Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash. "If you take out 'navigable' in this bill, it could potentially lead to the federal government usurping state laws as it relates to water and regulating, therefore, mud puddles. I just think that's bad policy."...more

This is a good example of one of the many things wrong with D.C. today. You'll note he was a staffer in 1972. He actually first went to work for Congress in 1963 and was elected a congressman in 1974.

That's 47 years of toiling away in oinkdom. Oberstar may have been a quality individual when he started, but you can't feed at the Congressional trough for 47 years without it changing you. Believe me I know and I was only there for 5 years.

If you have the stomach for it, go here to see his 7 minute presentation on the introduction of the bill. You will notice he has to read his statement. Other than a few ad libs about the meeting room and a hearing in Chicago, everything of substance about the proposed bill is read from a statement. A statement written by...a staffer.

And the circle continues.