He was first falsely accused when he talked of water policy in Nevada of wanting to run a pipe to Michigan and drain the lakes for Nevada. His original statement they supposedly got this from was:
“I believe that Western states and Eastern states have not been talking to each other when it comes to proper use of our water resources,” Richardson told the Sun. “I want a national water policy. We need a dialogue between states to deal with issues like water conservation, water reuse technology, water delivery and water production. States like Wisconsin are awash in water.”
However, if you read the
full article, his statement is obviously directed at the dispute over water rights to the Colorado river between Nevada and the Northern states along the river. He's been a leader on water conservation for decades. With climate change we'll soon have more droughts like the one going on right now in the South East. We need a national water policy.
A pipe from the Great Lakes is a ridiculous idea as it would cost more to pipe the water than folks could afford. He in no way endorsed that. What happened was that environmentalists in the area are pushing a compact on the lakes and mischaracterized Richardson's statement to promote the signing of that pact between the surrounding states and Canada. Granholm, the Michigan governor, also jumped on Richardson. Richardson was the first to take his name off the Michigan ballot in response to their jumping the early primary states. Granholm also endorsed Hillary soon after falsely attacking Richardson. No politics there, huh?
Bill Richardson's
press release on water policy.
SANTA FE, NM-- Presidential candidate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's national press secretary Tom Reynolds today released the following statement on Richardson's water policy for America's future:
"As president, Gov. Richardson will launch a national dialogue on water issues affecting all parts of the country, including quality, conservation, efficiency and reuse. While certain areas of the country enjoy greater water supplies than others, Richardson in no way proposes federal transfers of water from one region of the nation to the other. Richardson believes firmly in keeping water in its basin of origin and of the rights of states to oversee water distribution.
"As governor of a western state, Richardson understands more than others the importance of protecting our water supplies. In New Mexico he has developed a statewide water initiative, he has created a statewide strategic water reserve, and he has created a water innovation fund and a water trust fund to invest in water conservation and production.
"As President Gov. Richardson will embrace a national water policy that will specifically help protect the authority of states and the rights of local communities throughout the country."
In none of those articles can I find where he says or obviously implies that the Great Lakes belong to Michigan. He doesn't even mention the Great Lakes or Michigan.