Protect Illinois State Parks, Natural Areas, and People
Partners for Parks and Wildlife (PPW)
Monday Morning Wake-up
Partners for Parks and Wildlife (PPW) is going to be sending out a "Monday Morning Wake-Up" to our members and friends every Monday until the Legislature finishes business. Every Monday PPW will fill you in on what took place the previous week, what is coming up and HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES FUNDING!
MAY 2005 - ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER TIGHT BUDGET
This year the Governor has proposed raiding over a dozen dedicated funding sources for natural resources including OSLAD and NAAF (again). PPW asked that you oppose this action and you responded in March by sending THOUSANDS of faxes to the Governor, Legislative Leaders and your legislators.
The session is scheduled to end in the next three weeks. PPW is asking that you do something each week to make sure that NATURAL RESOURCE FUNDING IS NOT SLASHED THIS YEAR.
THIS WEEK'S ACTION: SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF YOUR LOCAL PAPER
AND, we make it easy, easy, easy for you to do this. Visit the PPW website to download sample letters that you can make your own and send TODAY!
www.partnersforparksandwildlife.org
A LOOK BACK TO LAST WEEK
1. The Auditor General released his '04 audit of IDNR and made
it available
on the website at:
Feel free to take a look at what is going on the IDNR.
2. PPW provided testimony regarding the IDNR budget last Wednesday before the House General Services Appropriations Committee. While there are some good things in the IDNR budget - $5M for land acquisition, funding for C-2000, funding for CREP, re-hire/hire of 50 state park employees - there are concerns that we shared with the committee including the Governor's efforts to raid the OSLAD, NAAF and other dedicated funds.
A LOOK AHEAD
1. HB214 is a supplemental appropriation for IDNR to reinstate the 89 employees who were laid off in January of this year. On Wednesday, the House Appropriations General Services Committee will take testimony on this legislation. PPW plans on presenting.
2. PPW asks that you take action today to send a letter to the editor about your concern over raiding OSLAD, NAAF and other funding for natural resources.
3. PPW will be revising our I-ACT Action Alert for next week's action
4. PPW MEMBERSHIP
At the February PPW meeting, it was discussed that PPW wants to attract as many active participating organizations as possible. Organizations and individuals who are passionate about funding for recreation, conservation and acquisition in Illinois need to be encouraged to become active with PPW.
Rather than establish a mandatory membership dues structure, it was decided to solicit voluntary contributions that will assist with PPW's activities.
PPW has been fortunate to receive direct support from a number
of organizations and has recently been awarded some grant money. However, in
order to continue to move PPW forward, we will be sending out appeal letters
this week to organizations who have been active in the past with PPW.
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From All-Terrain Vehicles
OPPOSE Motions To Override
Governor Vetoes of SB 2272 & SB 2273
Governor Blagojevich has vetoed two bills that would open the door for all-terrain vehicle trails through Illinois state parks, and limit the state’s authority to police illegal use of ATVs.
Illegal use of ATVs has caused major damage to many areas in Illinois, including Cahokia Mounds historic site, pristine areas of the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Nature Preserves, and others. The large tires on the vehicles, combined with their ability to drive off established trails and on steep terrain can rip up large amounts of vegetation and cause major erosion problems.
Our state parks are places for quiet recreation and wildlife – not dangerous racetracks for dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles. Protect our parks and those who use them from the noise and damage that can be done by off-road vehicles roaring through our woods and prairies, and oppose motions to override vetoes of these bills:
Senate Bill 2272 - would allow state funds to be used to build tracks for dirtbikes and four-wheelers in existing state parks. SB 2272 would allow construction of racetracks adjacent to campground, picnic areas, hiking trails, and other quiet places in our parks.
Senate Bill 2273 - would limit the funds available to the
state government to enforce existing laws against unsafe ATV use, to restore
areas already damaged by ATV use, and to promote rider safety.
With IDNR already suffering massive budget cuts, further restrictions on spending
would mean either failure to provide adequate enforcement, or draining valuable
GRF dollars to do so.
Sierra Club does not oppose finding IDNR lands to use as ATV facilities , but we do object to opening the statewide park system to this activity. We support the compromise offered by Governor Blagojevich in 2003, to allow funding of ATV facilities of areas newly donated or acquired specifically for ATV use, where they will not conflict with other recreational uses or damage habitat.
Keep the Peace and Quiet In Our Parks!
OPPOSE Motions To Override Vetoes of SB 2272 and 2273