Notes from Meetings with Indiana Delegates and Suggestions for Future Action

Office of Senator Evan Bayh

• Met with Ollie Hairston III, Legislative Correspondent.
• Mr. Hairston filled in for Emily Duncan as she was unable to attend.
• Presented MTBE, DoD Exemptions, and Infrastructure Funding issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Ollie was pleasant, and had few questions or comments.  He noted the request to fully fund the State revolving loan fund.
• I let him know that AWWA appreciated that Senator Bayh supported their position in the November 2003 session.  (Senator Bayh voted to end the debate – i.e., Republican filibuster attempt – and vote on the bill which had no safe harbor provision.)

Office of Representative Peter Visclosky, 1st District

• Met with Ben Bochnowski, Legislative Correspondent
• Presented Infrastructure Funding (first, as Rep. Visclosky is a member of the House Appropriations Committee), MTBE, and DoD Exemptions issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Mr. Bochnowski had very few comments or questions, so it was difficult to tell the position of the congressman on the issues.
• At the end of the meeting he did ask, however, “So, would you say that the issues that are important to you are not aligned with the current administration and leadership?” with a smile on his face.  Rep. Visclosky is one of three Democratic members from Indiana.
• Ben’s question gave me an opportunity to explain, while in some cases I have felt that the drinking water issues are viewed on Capital Hill as “special interest/environmental”, many in our business know their roles to be protectors of the public health and/or caretakers of an infrastructure that is vital to the local economy and community.

Office of Representative Chris Chocola, 2nd District

• Met first with Sarah Anderson, Legislative Assistant.
• Presented MTBE, DoD Exemptions, and Infrastructure Funding issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Met briefly with Congressman Chocola.  Discussed only MTBE issue and presented results of South Bend MTBE study.  Congressman stated that we would agree to disagree on the MTBE issue that it’s bad public policy to ask the gasoline companies to first use the gasoline additive then to ask them to be liable for it.  He also thought we (AWWA) were shooting ourselves in the foot because, if the legislation passes as-is, there is funding available to help clean up MTBE.  After seeing the South Bend MTBE treatment costs, however, Rep. Chocola thought that the proposed allocation might need to be checked to see whether it is enough.

Office of Representative Steve Buyer, 4th District

• Met with Katie McNabb, Legislative Assistant
• Presented MTBE, DoD Exemptions, and Infrastructure Funding issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Katie was empathetic (but not aligned) regarding the water utility position on MTBE.  She indicated, however, that keeping the MTBE safe harbor provision was VERY important to Rep. Tom Delay (R-TX), majority leader, and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX).  She anticipates that the House, with so many Republicans aligning with Delay's and the Energy and Commerce Committee Chair's lead, will pass the bill with the MTBE safe harbor provision in tact, then the Senate will pass a bill without it, and it will go to conference where the issue will either be resolved or die.

Office of Representative Julia Carson, 7th District

• Met with Marti Thomas, Legislative Director
• Presented MTBE, DoD Exemptions, and Infrastructure Funding issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Congresswoman Carson's office was frustrated and suggested that there was little that could be done to dissuade the Republicans on the MTBE issue.  Marti thought a last-effort to flood the representatives with letters from utilities and Mayors was about the only remaining option to try and make the point before the House votes on the issue again (possibly next week).
• As in previous meetings with Rep. Carson’s office, they continue to urge us to communicate regularly with them and to help keep them up-to-date on the issues that are important to us.

Office of Representative Hostettler, 8th District

• Met with Adam Howard, Legislative Assistant.
• Presented MTBE, DoD Exemptions, and Infrastructure Funding issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Mr. Bochnowski had very few comments or questions, so it was difficult to tell the position of the congressman on the issues.  He did ask whether the community water systems would apply for SRF loans and use the loans to help obtain/pay off bonds.

Office of Representative Mike Sodrel, 9th District

• Representative Sodrel is a freshman congressman.
• Met with Alison Slatter, Senior Policy Analyst.
• Presented MTBE, DoD Exemptions, and Infrastructure Funding issues.  MTBE information included the results of South Bend’s 2004 evaluation of MTBE removal.
• Ms. Slatter offered very few comments or questions, so it was difficult to tell the position of the congressman on the issues.

Other Notes and Suggestions for Future Action:

Not anything that anyone said, but appropriations seemed to be an easier sell than the more difficult MTBE or even DoD Exemptions issues.  Perhaps it is because funding of utility infrastructure is a less partisan issue. 

I do feel that the offices are increasing in the comfort with AWWA as a reliable source of information about water utility concerns, so the continued Fly-In efforts are paying off.

AWWA Indiana Section:  Perhaps we could consider inviting Reps. Visclosky (House Appropriations Committee) and others to visit a water utility that has directly benefited from the SRF funding program to raise their awareness about how the revolving loans help local communities maintain and improve their infrastructure and encourage them to fully fund the SRF programs.

Also, I would like to provide information to Rep. Hostettler’s office regarding the details of obtaining and using the SRF funds since he was interested.

After having so few voluntary comments or reactions to our issues from the offices I met with, I would recommend being more direct next time and asking how the congressmen/women feel about these issues and trying to probe about why they have developed the position they have.

AWWA National:  Based on my conversation with Representative Chocola, some of the representatives may be thinking that the funding allocation for MTBE cleanup is helpful for addressing the contamination.  While I think we have a gut-feel that the funding is not enough, proceeding with the national cost-impact study that Tommy Holmes referred to will be an excellent way to help the congressmen understand the true effect that MTBE is having on America’s water supplies.