D is for Defense at the State Budget Hearings 3-19-09

D is for Defense! Protect Conservation in the State Budget!   D is for Defense! It may seem like we say this every budget season, but it’s never been more true than this year.

Right now, members of the Joint Finance Committee are preparing what is going to be one of the toughest budgets in Wisconsin’s history. With the state facing a $5 billion deficit, it’s time to defend the programs that protect our natural resources!

In order to do that, we’ve scanned the 1743 pages of the proposed state budget with the help of more than a dozen organizational partners. Below, you’ll find a brief summary of the programs that the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters considers the top budget priorities. For more detail, visit our website HERE.

GREAT LAKES COMPACT

The Great Lakes scored a major victory last summer with the passage of the Strong Great Lakes Compact that will prevent other thirsty states and countries from taking our Great Lakes water. In order to implement the law and begin a statewide conservation and efficiency program, additional staff and funding are needed at the DNR. And, that funding is needed now…cities are already lining up to ask for diversions.

Action Needed: Ask legislators to support the proposal outlined in the Governor’s budget that provides staff and funding for Compact implementation.

OUT-OF-STATE WASTE

Neighboring states are STILL dumping their trash in Wisconsin because it’s cheaper to do so. They will keep dumping on us until our tipping fees–the cost to dump garbage in Wisconsin–are brought in line with the states around us.
Action Needed: Ask legislators to support the Governor’s budget to increase the tipping fee from $4 to $10. In addition, re-establish the statutory language that allows for recycling demonstration and efficiency grants, even if they are not funded in this budget.

POLLUTED RUNOFF

Wisconsin’s number one water quality problem stems from polluted runoff–the chemically loaded water that runs off of farm fields and construction sites. While Wisconsin has great laws to control polluted runoff, the programs have never been adequately funded. Resources are needed for things like staff, who help design and construct manure storage facilities, and for the writing and implementation of plans that help minimize the amount of chemicals applied to land in the first place.

Action Needed: Ask legislators to 1) Restore the $500,000 to the base of the staffing grant and fund it in the next budget; 2) Restore the 1% cut from the staffing grant and the 5% cut from the GPR portion of the staffing grant; 3) Restore the $3 million for Nutrient Management Plans to the DATCP budget.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Wisconsin’s energy mix is too reliant on oil, coal, and nuclear power, which is not only harmful to our environment, but sends $21 billion out-of-state and overseas to fuel our energy needs. Our tax dollars should go to projects and programs that protect our natural resources, leverage our economic opportunities, and ensure that local communities, businesses, and institutions benefit from an energy-independent Wisconsin.

Action Needed: Ask legislators to support the Governor’s budget to fund the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund at $14.85 million a year and ask that conditions be included to create viable energy markets for Wisconsin.

COASTAL MANAGEMENT GRANTS

Coastal management grants are awarded to state, local, and private entities to revitalize coastal waterfronts, restore rivers, wetlands and shorelines, and educate the public about the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget threatens the quality of this grant program by eliminating the 3 grant-administrator positions and transferring the money from the Dept. of Administration, which has run the program successfully for 30 years, to DNR. This transfer may even eliminate an open grants process. By the way–those eliminated positions are FEDERALLY funded, which means eliminating them does nothing to help Wisconsin’s bottom line.

Action Needed: Ask legislators to keep the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program under the Dept. of Administration and reinstate the federally funded staff positions to manage the program.

Make Your Voice Heard at the State Budge Hearings!

Joint Finance Committee (JFC) Co-Chairs Miller and Pocan recently announced public hearings on the state budget bill. This is YOUR chance to show legislators that there is strong support for conservation across the state–it’s important to make YOUR VOICE heard!

There are a couple of ways you can do that:

1. Attend a budget hearing and sign up to testify. Testimonies are limited to 3 MINUTES. Hearings run from 10AM-4PM, but you should arrive between 8 and 9AM to register to testify.

2. Join WLCV staff and other citizens at the budget hearings in Eau Claire, Racine, & Appleton for the first hour (10-11 AM). We will have conservation t-shirts and buttons so that legislators know who we are and what we stand for!

Let us know if you can come by clicking on the city where you’ll be joining us: Eau Claire, Racine, Appleton.

3. Submit written testimony. You can draft your own comments or take action via email on Monday when we’ll be sending out a template and action alert. Either way, make sure to send them to me. I will make copies for each member of the committee and deliver them at the hearing.

Complete list of hearing locations:
Sparta, Monday, March 23: American Legion Hall, 1116 Angelo Rd.
West Allis, Wednesday, March 25: State Fair Park, Banquet Rm 2, 640 S. 84th St.
Eau Claire, Friday, March 27: UW-Eau Claire Haas Fine Arts Center, 121 Water Street.
Racine, Monday, March 30: Case High School Theater, 7345 Washington Ave.
Appleton, Wednesday, April 1: Lawrence University Stansbury Theater, 420 College Ave.
Cambridge, Friday, April 3: Amundson Community Center, 200 Spring Street.

Thank you for all your conservation efforts!

Jessica Garrels, Organizing Director
608-661-0845
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