Lakes
Protection Weakened by
Assembly
Budget Repair Bill
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Your
State Senators need to hear from you if we are to thwart actions by
the Assembly Republican Caucus that could slow or, in some cases, bring
to a halt, efforts and programs that preserve the quality of our waterways.
The Assembly met last Thursday and passed the budget
repair bill. Here are some of the most significant items of interest to
WAL members and friends:
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The bill would impose substantial and disproportionate cuts in the DNR
budget for water programs. although these do not affect grant programs,
they do severely limit DNR’s ability to carry out and enforce water resource
protection programs.
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The bill would cut one DNR Attorney position and prohibits state agencies
from commencing court cases which challenge local decisions to grant variances
from the shoreland zoning regulations when the variance has been approved
by a two thirds vote of the governing body. (This is Natural Resources
Item 29 on page 149 of the Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s March 13 Comparative
Summary of Budget Recommendations.
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The bill would establish an Invasive Species Task Force and a statewide
invasive species control program but would not provide funding for this
new program.
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The bill would significantly reduce funding for land acquisition by DNR
and through grants to local organizations. Overall, the Stewardship Program’s
appropriations would be reduced from $60 million to $35 million annually.
Also proposed are more technical program changes that would make land acquisitions
more difficult.
After the Assembly acts, the bill will be sent to
the Senate. The Senate 2001-2003 Biennial Budget Committee, chaired by
Sen. Robert Jauch, has announced five public hearings on the bill as follows:
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10 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, UW-Superior; Kathryn Ohman Theatre, McCaskill
Hall, Belknap Street and Catlin Ave., Superior
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10 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, UW-Eau Claire; Davies Center Ojibwa Room,
105 Garfield Ave., Eau Claire
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10 a.m. Thursday, March 21, UW-Green Bay; details forthcoming
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1 p.m. Monday, March 25, UW-Milwaukee; Student Union, Fireside Lounge,
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee
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10 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, UW-Madison; details forthcoming
WHAT
YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW!
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Plan to attend and speak out at one of the hearings listed above.
Write, call or send an e-mail your state senator. If you don't know
who that is, click here: www.legis.state.wi.us
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Call the toll-free hot line at the capitol (1 800 362-9472 or 266-9960,
locally) and say “I would like to leave a message for the Senator who represents
the district in which I live, (give your address)
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If you write a letter, send it to: Your Senator, P.O. Box 7882, Madison,
WI 53707.
The
budget repair bill is now with the Senate. They will adopt a budget that
is different from the Assembly’s so there will be need for a conference
committee. Therefore leaders of the Assembly should be aware of your feelings
as well. So please include them on your contact list, as well.
They especially need to hear from folks in the lake region of Washington,
Waukesha and Walworth Counties. Here they are:
Rep.
Steven Foti, 608 266-2401
P.O.
Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
Rep.
Scott Jensen, 608 266-3387
P.O.
Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
Rep.
Neal Kedzie, 608 266-9650
P.O.
Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
And
also to the Senate minority leader –
Sen.
Mary Panzer, 608 266-7513 (Especially needs to hear from people in the
West Bend area)
P.O.
Box 7882, Madison, WI 53708
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Dear (Legislator's name)
As a (person/lakes organization) concerned with
the present and future of Wisconsin’s lakes and waterways, (I/we) strongly
urge you to reconsider the following items and remove them from the Budget
Repair Bill.
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These include the substantial and disproportionate cuts in the DNR budget
for water programs;
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Reduction of one DNR Attorney position and prohibition of state agencies
from commencing court cases challenging local decision to grant variances
from shoreland zoning regulations;
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Failure to provide funding for an approved program on invasive species
control proposed by a Governor’s Task Force;
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Significantly reducing funding for land acquisition by the DNR and through
grants to local organizations. Technical program changes that would make
land acquisitions more difficult should also be rejected.
These items are excessive in scope and would serve
only a narrow minority of special interests while damaging these resources
to the detriment of all Wisconsin residents and an industry whose main
appeal centers on the quality of our environment.
Thank you for your consideration and support
Your name, address, telephone or e-mail
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