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The Beacon
Hill Weekly Roundup - 8/15/08
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Governor Patrick Signs the Environmental Bond
On Thursday morning at 11:18, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the $1.68 billion Environmental Bond, providing much needed capital funds for state environmental programs over the next five years. This is the largest infusion of capital funds into environmental programs ever. Even though not all of this money will be spent - on average 66% of authorized bond funds are actually expended - this still represents several hundred million more in available capital and a commitment of $50 million per year for land protection programs. Mass Audubon commends Governor Patrick, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles and the Legislature for their leadership, support and approval of the largest Environmental Bond authorization in the Commonwealth's history. The Environmental Bond will provide the capital resources needed to protect open space, improve water and air quality, repair and maintain public parks, increase energy efficiency, support our agricultural resources, and much more. The Bond also includes a land conservation tax credit, which is not yet law. The Governor sent back to the Legislature a $2 million per year cap and language for site prioritization. When the tax credit is law, we will announce it in The Roundup. The incentive is a complement to the capital funds provided by the Environmental Bond, and will enhance and expand public and private preservation efforts.
We have just received the Governor's comments on the Environmental Bond and are reviewing the veto message. Next week's Roundup will have further analysis and text. Thanks to all who made the thousands of phone calls and sent the emails and letters received by the Governor and legislators. Without your advocacy, we would not have had such success this session! Mass Audubon and our conservation partners suggest making a quick call, or sending a brief email, thanking the Governor, Secretary Bowles and your legislators for their strong support of our state's environmental programs. For their contact information visit the "Stay in Touch" section of the Roundup. Legislators can be found under "General Court". Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
Ocean Management Act Update
As we reported in an earlier Roundup, Governor Patrick signed into law this spring The Massachusetts Ocean Management Act, a Mass Audubon legislative priority. On Wednesday, the statutorily mandated Ocean Advisory Commission met for the first time at the State Fish Pier in Boson. Earlier this week the Governor appointed Mass Audubon's Jack Clarke as the "environmental organization" representative on the 17-member Commission. For details, visit the Coalition website.
Support Conservation – Pre-order a “Land and Water” Plate Today!
Mass Audubon is working with the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to establish a new "Land and Water Conservation" license plate program. The sale and success of these plates can be a stable and sustainable source of funding for land protection in Massachusetts.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles requires 3,000 pre-orders for the plates before they will put the plate into production.
For more information, or to pre-order your plate, visit the Mass Land and Water website.
Calendar
Governor's Town Meeting Schedule August 23rd
Caribbean Day Parade
Boston, MA
2 p.m. EEA Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Hearings Scheduled September 4th
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
100 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA
Conference Room B (2nd floor)
*Bring a valid picture ID to this hearing.
DFW Forestry Public Site Visit Schedule Visit the DFW website for more information. Date | Time | Site | Description | May 5, 2008 | 6:00 pm | Montague Plains WMA, Montague, MA | Heavy overstory thinning in abandoned field pitch pine forest to reduce wildfire hazard and accommodate prescribed fire | June 18, 2008 | 6:00 pm | Herm Covey WMA, Belchertown, MA | White pine shelterwood harvests to establish structurally diverse young forest habitat of mixed white pine and native hardwoods | July 18, 2008 | 2:00 pm | Eugene Moran WMA, Windsor & Chalet WMA, Dalton | Abandoned pasture reclamation for shrubland habitat, and 6,800 ac forest reserve | Aug. 15, 2008 | 6:00 pm | Fox Den WMA, Middlefield, MA | Aspen regeneration and abandoned orchard reclamation | Sept. 9, 2008 | 5:00 pm | Peru WMA, Peru, MA | Conversion of Norway spruce plantation to a mixed, two-aged stand of northern hardwood, white pine, Norway spruce, and balsam fir | Oct. 14, 2008 | 4:00 pm | Phillipston WMA, Phillipston, MA | White pine seed tree harvest and adjacent moose wintering site. |
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
Legislative Tool Kit
Stay In Touch
Senators and Representatives need to hear from their constituents! Contact your legislators and share with them the environmental issues that are important to you.
Find out who represents you in the Senate and House.
Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
Discover effective ways to convey your environmental interests to your Senator or Representative.
View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
How the Law is Made
Learn about the steps a bill takes before becoming law. You can also use our graphic charts to guide you through the life of a bill, from when it is first filed, to when it is signed into law.
 Mass Audubon Advocacy
6 Beacon Street, Suite 1025
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-8448 (phone)
617-523-4183 (fax)
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