4 - The Michigan, Daily - Wednesday, July 9, 1997 Edited and managed by ERIN MARSH JACK SCHILLACI students at the Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor 44 a - University of Michigan/i le wt at Unless other-wise noted. imsrgned editorials reflect the op>inion f 420 Maynard Street marOjoril < /the Dail s' editorialhoardl l .ll oirer articlesll titers Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (/1(011aoons 1 inotiecessairifle/i1the opinion of The Misliiganail U nless the U.S. Congress and the Michigan legislature pass legislation quickly, Ann Arbor may find itself awash with international sludge. Beginning next year, the city of Toronto will ship 250,000 to 500,000 cubic yards of trash per year for burial in Browning Ferris Industries' Arbor Hills landfill, located in Ann Arbor. The Windsor City Council recently voted to transport the city's solid biowaste to Ann Arbor, if it could work out a deal with Arbor Hills. Under current federal law, the city cannot stop the landfill from accept- ing foreign garbage - a dilemma that needs to be rectified immediately to pre- vent pollutants from entering the area. Ann Arbor and area residents, quite naturally, are raising a stink about the proposed garbage transfers. A group called the Toronto Trash Campaign sent 3,000 letters of protest to the Ontario provincial government. The group also lobbied on behalf of U.S. House Bill 1346, a measure co-sponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) and Rep. Garae scout Congress, state must block waste dumping Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor). The bill seeks to remove a serious impediment to state and local governments' abilities to regulate garbage within their jurisdic- tions. Under current federal law, only Congress may regulate the interstate or international commerce of garbage. Unless the bill passes, Ann Arbor and Lansing are helpless to stop Arbor Hills from importing Toronto and Windsor's waste. Congress must act quickly to pass the bill and return autonomy over garbage to people living in the affected areas. Should Congress pass the bill, the state is already working on a measure to reduce importation of international sludge. State Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem) added an amendment to the state's waste regulation bill that would require states sending trash to Michigan to follow the same guidelines as in-state garbage. Trash from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois - states that allow motor oil and automobile bat- teries in their garbage, items banned from the Michigan trash heap - would no longer be eligible for transport into Michigan. Ironically, Ontario's trash would be eligible under Smith's amend- ment if it were not banned under the orig- inal bill - the province follows the same sanitary guidelines as Michigan. The state legislature has already begun work on bills to reduce the number of places that incoming garbage can go. One such measure, advanced by Rep. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor), would impose a five-year moratorium on building new landfills in Michigan. The state current has enough landfill space to handle i own garbage for 15-20 years. Another bil introduced before Brater's, seeks to eat restrictions on landfill building. If passe the bill would make Michigan even attractive to neighboring states provinces seeking to unload some exti trash. Brater's bill wisely attempts I reverse that trend. Waste haulers enjoy enormous auton my under current federal laws, a situatio that often works against the best intere: of residents near landfills. It's time f local government and residents to : given a say on the type and amounts garbage being brought into their commi nities and neighborhoods. Cong should pass Rivers' bill, allowing loc interests control over the importation trash. In turn, state representatives mu act to stop the flow of garbage in Michigan from other states and countrie Michigan must not become the midwest favorite dumping ground. Far from home Homeless shelter will benefit county T hrough summer's heat and winter's tal health programs are among the shelter's cold, Ann Arbor's homeless population services - providing important assistance seek salvage from the streets and extreme that homeless residents cannot get else- weather in shelters. The city's homeless sit- where. uation is severe and deserves attention While the new shelter will provide long- from city and county authorities. Currently term housing, the commissioners stated existing downtown shelters suffer from intentions for present shelters run by the extreme budget gaps that could force them Shelter Association of Washtenaw County to limit or discontinue the services they to provide emergency and short-term ser- provide. Last week, the Washtenaw County vices. The association's budget dictates oth- Commissioners voted to create a new erwise - a $146,000 gap could force the homeless shelter in Pittsfield Township. association to close shelters during the The new shelter will provide many home- summer to allow them to be available dur- less residents with necessary services to ing the cold winter months. The county keep afloat - it is a move in the right should attempt to facilitate continuing ser- direction for the county. vices by providing supplemental funding to The county will construct the new shel- the association. ter on the corner of Ellsworth Road and The commission's decision met with Stone School Road. The bed space in the significant opposition.-More than 900 res- city's currently existing shelters is insuffi- idents from the Ellsworth area signed a cient to cope with the significant homeless petition against the shelter's construction, population - the new shelter will help threatening a lawsuit against the county. supplement available space and reduce the The residents do not want the homeless number of residents forced out into the "in their backyard"- a selfish stance that street. The Ann Arbor City Council tenta- could prevent the reduction of a signifi- tively agreed to pay for one-third of the cant social problem. shelter's construction. The city will receive The commission's vote was 10-4 follow- significant benefits of the new shelter --it ing political party lines with one commis- should support it financially. sioner absent, barely achieving the two- The shelter's significant distance from thirds majority required to initiate the pro- downtown Ann Arbor - where the major- ject. Republicans stated their belief at pre- ity of the city's homeless reside - could vious commission meetings that tax dollars prevent maximum utilization of its facili- should go to provide county services - not ties. Commissioner David Monfronton to house the homeless. The county must (D-Ann Arbor) stated that there were sev- commit itself to helping all residents, eral problems to solve before construction whether or not they are homeless. begins next spring, including transporta- The commission's initiative will con- tion for shelter users. Since most homeless tribute greatly to solving the county's residents will be incapable of transporting homeless problem - however, it must themselves to the shelter, the county ensure that present shelters remain opera- should provide busing. The commission tional and residents' opposition to the should also ensure that physical and men- shelter does not come to fruition. Footing the bill Federal health care helps children or many parents whose children must Congressional Budget Office release make costly hospital visits without estimates that Congress's bills may n insurance coverage, two bills in the U.S. reach as many children as it intende Congress could provide much-needed The estimates indicated that many chi relief. Last week, the House and Senate dren covered under the plans woul passed bills to establish a federally funded already have health-care insurance fro children's health-insurance program. With other sources. Congress should maa the number of employers providing insur- closer examination of its bills to pre e ance as part of work compensation drop- double coverage and ensure that th ping, large numbers of children grow up greatest number of children possible g without sufficient access to health care. In support. The Senate bill provides an add reconciling the differences between the tional $8 billion gathered from tobacc two versions of the bill, Congress should taxes - a good idea that will give mo ensure that children grow up with the children access to health care and facil health care they need. ties. Congress and President Clinton ear- Budget Office officials stated that t marked $16 billion to establish a national House bill, in particular, offered slt children's health-insurance program as too much control over the funds. part of the national budget. Both the House's measure made no provision f House and the Senate bills create a system what type of coverage children woul to direct the funds' use. The two houses receive with the federal funds - allo are now in deliberation over the two bills ing states to decide what aid they wi to create a final version that both legisla- give. States could potentially use th tive bodies will pass. funds to compensate for a decrease i According to a 1995 survey, 9.8 mil- Medicaid funding. Congress should nc lion minors are without basic health insur- blindly dole out block grants and allo ance. Such staggering numbers force the states to sweat the details - instead, issue of what to do when uninsured chil- should provide a comprehensive defin dren need medical attention - without a tion of what type of coverage the fe*a means to pay bills, parents may have to funds will provide and ensure that the forgo a trip to the doctor's office until the are spent to that end. situation becomes dire. Health Clinton's initial campaign promise o Maintenance Organizations help put universal health care for all American health care within more people's reach - met great resistance in Congress - nox with a little assistance from the govern- there is an opportunity to guarantee that a ment, many children not presently cov- least children will receive help. Howevet ered could get the medical attention they the legislature should create standards t need. Congress should enact a federal ensure that coverage is the same across th children's health-insurance program to country. Legislators on Capitol Hill slal1 keep children healthy throughout vital work to make a trip to the doctor feab formative years. for all children -not just the economical Last week, the nonpartisan ly privileged.