|
The Beacon
Hill Weekly Roundup - 5/2/08
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
House Votes on Environmental Amendments
The House is debating its $28 billion fiscal year 2009 budget this week, thus far adding $34.5 million in amendments on Tuesday, $19.7 million on Wednesday, and $55.7 million on Thursday, with debate continuing through today and possibly into Monday. Early this afternoon, the House voted on the consolidated environmental amendment. Notwithstanding increases in funding for the Department of Conservation & Recreation's State and Urban Parks and the Department of Environmental Protection, the House budget fails to put state environmental programs on the path to recovery from the debilitating spending cuts of the past six years. Again, and despite efforts made by the administration, representatives, and the environmental community, the House denied funding to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. We were successful with increasing funds for two of our priorities, Riverways and State Parks. MassGIS remains level funded with the Governor's recommendation and NHESP is unfunded. Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of these programs! Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program
Governor's Budget: $250,000
House Budget: $0
House Budget Amended: $0 Riverways
Governor's Budget: $604,217
House Budget: $604,217
House Budget Amended: $650,000 MassGIS
Governor's Budget: $299,932
House Budget: $299,932
House Budget Amended: level Department of Conservation and Recreation State Parks
Governor's Budget: $25,358,031
House Budget: $24,368,320
House Budget Amended: $26,545,320 Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Update We were very successful in creating a buzz about NHESP in the House and were closer to restoring funds than we have ever been before. While having the amendment fail is very disappointing, we are in a much better position now to succeed in the Senate. If the funds are restored in the Senate, the groundwork that we have laid in the House will go far during the conference committee when the House and Senate conferees work out the differences between the two budgets and produce a final fiscal year 2009 budget. Action alerts went out from Mass Audubon, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, and others. The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) sent in a letter of support for the amendment, and NAIOP, Mass Audubon, and TNC delivered a joint letter to all House members on behalf of NHESP. Many organizations sent letters to Representative DeLeo, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, including the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Center for Applied Regional Studies, Manomet, New England Wild Flower Society, and Northeast Wilderness Trust, Mass Audubon, and The Nature Conservancy. We have received multiple personal letters to representatives that have been forwarded to us by their senders. Thank you to everyone named and not named for helping get the word out about NHESP! Your active involvement in Mass Audubon's state budget lobbying is crucial to our strategy for reinvesting in the stewardship of the Commonwealth's natural resources. Our attention now turns towards the Senate to restore investments in critical conservation accounts-stay tuned for a Call to Action within the next three weeks urging you to contact your state senator to support our priority amendments! For Mass Audubon's fiscal year 2009 budget recommendations, click here.
Bond Update
For the past few weeks, The Roundup has focused on the line items in the state budget that provide funding for the departments and programs that help protect the nature of Massachusetts. Though the budget provides the annual funding needed to keep these departments and programs moving, the $1.5 billion Environmental Bond is the cornerstone of conservation in Massachusetts. The Environmental Bond is perhaps the most important piece of legislation of the next five years. The Bond funds recreational facilities, parks and parkways, land protection - with a $50 million per year commitment from the Governor, agriculture and forestry, wildlife and rare species, water quality protection, coastal and marine resource protection, and air pollution and solid waste programs. This week the Senate extended the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets' reporting deadline to June 18th. The House has yet to approve the extension and may push to move the bill earlier. As always, we will keep you informed as the bond moves through the legislature. Visit The Coalition for the Environmental Bond website for updates and more information.
Protecting Horseshoe Crabs on Cape Cod
Mass Audubon presented written and oral testimony today to the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) in response to their proposed changes to Horseshoe Crab Fisheries Regulations. DMF held a hearing today in Bourne, and Mass Audubon was there to support the proposed changes to these regulations governing the harvesting of horseshoe crabs. The changes include a moratorium on new permits, a 165,000-crab quota for the fishery statewide, a 400-crab daily possession limit (down from 1,000), and temporary closure on July 1 to enable accounting of landings. Mass Audubon also supports the DMF efforts to incorporate current science into the regulations. The Horseshoe Crab plays an important part in our coastal ecosystem. Increased research is leading to increased knowledge of the relationship a healthy Horseshoe Crab population has with the health of migratory shore bird populations in Cape Cod estuaries and embayments.
Meeting on Forestry on Massachusetts State Land
Join fellow concerned citizens, environmental groups, and private foresters to discuss Green Certification, forestry practices, and management plans for public (state) lands in Massachusetts. The meeting will be held on May 16th, 9:30 a.m. - Noon at Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. The goal of the discussion is to identify and prioritize issues, and if possible identify commonly shared goals and strategies. Attendance is free, with the following conditions: - Please pre-register by RSVP to the email addresses below.
- Respect other participants and diverse viewpoints.
- Meeting space is limited to 40 participants - if interest exceeds that additional meeting(s) may follow.
To RSVP or provide suggestions on the agenda, please reply to: E. Heidi Ricci, Mass Audubon, hricci@massaudubon.org and/or Bob Perschel, bob.perschel@verizon.net
Calendar
May 10th
Cochituate Rail Trail Spring Cleanup
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Framingham, MA
May 16th
Forestry on Massachusetts State Lands
9:30 a.m. - 12 noon
Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Worcester, MA
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
|
print
e-mail
go back