Governors skip Water Hearing

Rep. Lewis 'disappointed' governors skipped water hearing
By Bob Kemper
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/12/08

Rep. John Lewis lashed out at Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Alabama and Florida counterparts Tuesday for failing to show up at a congressional hearing into the 40-year dispute among the states over shared water supplies.

Lewis, an Atlanta Democrat, said he'll introduce legislation that would order another Army Corps of Engineers study of water sources already stressed by a record drought but said no end is in sight for a permanent final agreement without a deeper commitment by the governors.

"I'm very disappointed in the governors of these three states who declined our invitation to be here," said Lewis, who as the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation is leading the fight for water in Washington.

Officials from Florida and others who testified at the subcommittee hearing questioned Atlanta's role in the water crisis, complaining that the city and state did a poor job planning for future water needs in one of the nation's fastest growing regions.

But support for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin came from an unlikely defender, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Grantville Republican.

"It's always easy to kick Atlanta," said Westmoreland, who had a report on Franklin's water-related work introduced into the record.

Citing the city's purchase of a quarry that can store 2 billion gallons of water, Westmoreland said, "Mayor Franklin has stepped up to the plate."

- Staff writer Gerry Shih contributed to this report.