Action Alert on the Environmental Budget!

The House completed its FY 2010 budget last week and the Senate will be releasing its version next week. Given that the bottom keeps falling out of state revenues, we can expect additional deep cuts across the board. WE NEED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE right now if we are to be heard at all.

The House budget cuts environmental programs by 12.7%! Last week, after the House raised the sales tax, they took up budget amendments and restored about $600 million in cuts. How much of that went to restore environmental programs? A mere $200,000!

These cuts would mean even deeper cuts to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the agency that manages the Blue Hills Reservation. Even without this new round of cuts, DCR has to cut back on summer rangers and seasonal park staff.

Please call your own State Senator and Senator Stephen Panagiotakos, Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and tell them: NO FURTHER CUTS to the environmental budget.

Talking points

Environmental agencies have borne disproportionate cuts, both during the mid-year (FY09) cuts made by the Governor to balance the budget and during the last economic downturn in 2001 (according to the Mass Taxpayers Foundation).

The legislature's landmark environmental achievements of the last session on energy and climate change and ocean management will not be fully realized without adequate resources.

Not only does public health suffer when we don't protect our environment, our economy suffers as well. Tourism is a $14 billion industry in MA and supports 200,000 jobs.

Senator Panagiotakos can be reached at 617-722-1481. To find out who your Senator is go to http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm.

Time is of the essence, so please call today!