(AP) -- By JOHN FLESHER, AP Environmental Writer
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Activists say they're dissatisfied with President Barack Obama's spending plan for Great Lakes cleanup and will ask Congress for more money.
Obama successfully requested $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in his 2010 budget, but is seeking just $300 million in the fiscal 2011 plan released this week. Great Lakes advocacy groups said Wednesday they will lobby Congress to boost next year's total to at least $475 million.
Andy Bucshbaum of theHealing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition praised Obama for requesting historically high amounts of money for the lakes. But he said still more is needed to deal with long-underfunded problems such as toxic sediments and invasive species. He said restoring the lakes will boost the economy and create jobs.
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