EDITOR:

Bart: I am confused. How can a request for your constituents to contact you if they were concerned with proposed Clean Water legislation be interpreted as a "scare tactic?"

For your information I did my research and I was, and still am concerned with the impact that changing the definition of waters that fall under government control from "navigable" to "any water" will have on landowners and private property rights.

I was quite aware that your committee was taking up the issue on Oct. 15 and simply requested that interested parties weigh in with concerns. Why does that scare you?

You stated to me in a letter dated Oct. 15, 2009 that this change in definitions would only correct a "mistake" that five judges of our Supreme Court made on two occasions in 2001 and again in 2006.

1 don't think five judges erred. I think the congress trying to circumvent a Supreme Court ruling by changing a definition is an error.

I don't believe that there are many people in your District (including myself) that do not want protection for our valued resources. I have spent a large share of my life working for that but at the same time I will continue to defend the private property rights guaranteed by the constitution. I will oppose any attempts to circumvent those rights.

G. Dale McNamee

Escanaba