BUDGET FOCUS ON 'PARTNERSHIPS' MISDIRECTS KEY STATE FUNDS, CRITICS SAY

The Bush administration's fiscal year 2007 budget request reflects a growing focus on state, local and industry partnerships to solve environmental problems, which some critics say is diverting federal dollars away from crucial state air and water programs in the name of promoting what the White House calls "cooperative conservation." The budget highlights these partnerships as key efforts under the conservation initiative, which asks EPA and the departments of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and Defense to work with local communities to...