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Well unfortunately you are wrong concerning your first statement. We
actually have a Democratic governor here in Illinois. So in a way
it makes it all worse. We might have anticipated such a move from a
Republican, but coming from a Democrat it was even more of a shock.<br>
Mary Ann<br>
<br>
<br>
At 04:45 PM 2/23/04 -0500, Rick Huffman wrote:<br>
<font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF"><blockquote type=cite cite>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><blockquote><font face="tahoma" size=2>
<dl>
<dd>-----Original Message-----
<dd>From:</b> native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[<a href="mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org%5DOn" eudora="autourl">mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org]</a><a href="mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org%5DOn" eudora="autourl">On</a>
Behalf Of </b>Jason Koontz
<dd>Sent:</b> Monday, February 23, 2004 2:11 PM
<dd>To:</b> Native Plant ListServ
<dd>Subject:</b> [PCA] IDNR Natural Heritage & Ill. Nature Preserves
Commission Threatened<br>
<br>
</font><font face="arial" size=4>
<dd>Hello all,</font>
<dd>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.
<dd>Jason<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite>
<dd>Dear colleagues and fellow conservationists,<br>
<br>
<dd> 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>
<dd> 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>
<dd> 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>
<dd> 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>
<dd><a href="http://www.legis.state.il.us/house/">http://www.legis.state.il.us/house/</a><br>
<br>
<dd><a href="http://www.legis.state.il.us/senate/" eudora="autourl">http://www.legis.state.il.us/senate/</a><br>
<br>
<dd>find legislator by address:
<dd><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>
<br>
<dd> 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.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<dd>Sincerely,
<dd>Todd Bittner
<dd>"In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we
create, but by what we refuse to destroy." - John
Sawhill<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
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