The House of Delegates may have killed legislation to clean up air pollution earlier today, but the House leadership has put forth a plan to put more money into cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. According to a press release from the Speaker’s office:

Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today announced a major financial commitment – $50 million annually for the next 10 years – to the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF). It would be the largest infusion of dollars to the WQIF since its inception in 1997. House Republicans will include an amendment to the 2004-2006 Budget that will dedicate $50 million from general funds to the WQIF, with priority being given to those “point source” water and waste-water treatment plants whose current discharges most exceed proposed environmental regulations to ensure that the worst dischargers will be cleaned-up first.



Fifty million bucks a year — that ain’t chopped liver. Let’s see how the state Senate and the Governor’s office handle this one!