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<DIV><SPAN class=210443521-23022004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Let me
guess, you have a republican Governor. The same is being done to our SC
Department of Natural Resources and our Conservation Land Bank. The right wing
views nature and natural things as obstacles standing in the way of progress.
Folks that care for such things are tree hugging liberals without morality and
regard for the human condition. The reality is our natural resources are
being exploited to fuel the big corps taking our jobs away and to try and
lessen our trade deficit. I hear your plea for help and it ringing all across
our country. The republicans and democrats do not view the environment as an
issue, but for those like us it is THE issue. Once we lose here, we have lost
our heritage our soul, and we leave a legacy for our children that we sold it
for temporary gain. We will help were we can. Sincerely Rick Huffman, Founder
South Carolina Native Plant Society</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org]<B>On Behalf Of
</B>Jason Koontz<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, February 23, 2004 2:11
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Native Plant ListServ<BR><B>Subject:</B> [PCA] IDNR Natural
Heritage & Ill. Nature Preserves Commission
Threatened<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>Hello all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>I'm forwarding a letter from the
President of the IL Native Plant Society concerning a troubling budget
proposal from the Governor of Illinois. I know this is not uncommon, but
the folks in Illinois could use any and all support.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>Jason</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<BLOCKQUOTE cite type="cite">Dear colleagues and fellow
conservationists,<BR><BR> As many of you may have already
heard, Governor Rod Blagojevich has proposed in next year's state budget to
divert revenue from the Real Estate Transfer Tax, directed by statute to
fund the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF) and the Open Space Lands
Acquisition and Development Fund (OSLAD), to the General Revenue Fund.
He has also proposed to eliminate nearly 200 positions within the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources. As a result, ALL OF THE NATURAL
HERITAGE AND NATURE PRESERVES COMMISSION POSITIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED,
PERMANENTLY!<BR><BR> The ramifications to Illinois'
significant natural resources will be profound, widespread, and long
lasting. Decades of vigilant efforts to protect, safeguard, and manage
our natural areas and endangered species will be in jeopardy.
Illinois, long a model for the national and international conservation
communities, will no longer be a leader in the conservation movement.
Illinois citizens, who repeatedly identify the protection of Illinois open
space, wildlife, and natural areas as a very high priority and key component
of their quality of life, will also be negatively affected. The
care and management of our State Parks, identified as a priority by Governor
Blagojevich in his budget address, will actually be weakened by these
cuts. And the loss of these programs and their associated funds will
also result in the loss of millions of additional conservation dollars that
are brought into Illinois by Natural Heritage and Nature Preserves
Commission staff through various grants.<BR><BR> The
proposed cuts at issue go beyond the loss of the NAAF and OSLAD funding
alone. Even if funding for these important programs is maintained,
NATURAL HERITAGE AND ILLINOIS NATURE PRESERVES COMMISSION STAFF POSITIONS
are still proposed to be ELIMINATED. Also at stake are other Office of
Resource Conservation positions such as our Foresters, Fisheries, and
Wildlife Biologists. We will be losing FRONT-LINE biologists - public
service providers - not middle managers as stated in the budget
address. We will need all constituents for all conservation interests
across Illinois to speak with a unified voice to OPPOSE THESE CUTS, as the
protection and management of our state's natural resources is at
stake.<BR><BR> Please, pass the word and TELL YOUR
LEGISLATORS that Illinois can't afford to sacrifice the funding or the
staff that protects and manages our remaining natural areas and
imperiled species. We will need to be more vocal than ever before if
we want to have our voices heard over the din of opposition to other parts
of the proposed budget. A fact sheet detailing ramifications to our
natural heritage from the proposed budget was developed by The Nature
Conservancy, and is attached for your information. Contact information
for your legislator can be found at the addresses below:<BR><BR><A
href="http://www.legis.state.il.us/house/">http://www.legis.state.il.us/house/</A><BR><BR><A
href="http://www.legis.state.il.us/senate/">http://www.legis.state.il.us/senate/</A><BR><BR>find
legislator by address:<BR><A
href="http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/DLSAddresscrit.asp">http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/DLSAddresscrit.asp</A><BR><BR><BR>
Two years ago, the Illinois conservation community successfully stood up and
voiced its opposition to significant cuts by the Ryan Administration to the
Natural Areas Acquisition Fund, and the cuts were subsequently repealed by
the state legislature. The conservation crisis today is
unparalleled. Our efforts must be equal to the challenge. Thank
you.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite type="cite"><BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR>Todd
Bittner<BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite type="cite">"In the end, our society will be defined not
only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy." -
John Sawhill</BLOCKQUOTE>
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