MI-Sen: BIG win for Michigan Democrats!

For many years now, several man-made mountains in southeast Michigan have been growing out of control, much to the consternation of local residents.  The mountains are actually trash dumps, and the trash therein is largely comprised of solid waste imported from Toronto, Ontario.

TODAY, a victory for the Michigan environment and for Michigan Democrats.  More below the fold.

I don't have the specifics with me, but some very sizable percentage of Toronto's trash output is being trucked directly to Michigan.  For a small "tipping fee" paid to the landfill operator, the Canadian city's trash contractor has been able to circumvent the more strenuous regulations (and higher dumping fees) of their home province, and send their compacted trash to us Michiganders.  

NOBODY profits from this arrangment, except the landfill operators and the Canadian contractor.  The state is forced to absorb the cost of the extra (heavy!) trash-hauling trucks on our roads and bridges, the environmental impact of the landfill content, and basically assume all of the risk so that a few narrow interests can eke out a profit.

Michigan has been somewhat powerless to stop this influx.  Responsibility for international trade agreements is reserved at the Federal level, so the Governor can't really do anything to prevent the Canadian shipments from being dumped in-state.  Nor can she, legally, regulate Canadian trash differently from trash that's generated in-state.  In other words, she can't deter Toronto without causing problems for our own cities.  For years, our Democratic leaders (Governor and Senator) have been fighting the good fight, but had found little success.

TODAY, local media (http://www.freep.com/... among others) are now reporting that Michigan's Democratic Senators have successfully negotiated an end to the trash imports.  They had been threatening Congressional action to sanction or deter the Toronto trash; apparently their posturing has paid off.  Our Canadian friends have agreed to phase out trash exports to Michigan over the next four years.

All media reports I've seen on this have praised Senators Levin and Stabenow (both D-MI) for their leadership and results.  Debbie (Stabenow) is up for re-election this November.  She already has a strong reputation around here as a common-sense legislator who gets results.  Now that the Canadian garbage trucks are going to be moving out, that reputation is even shinier.  

No joy for the "R" party here.  New prediction:  Debbie (MI-Sen) by 15; Jennifer (MI-Gov) by 10.