[BCNnet] Birders need to contact state reps to save the IDNR

[Donnie Dann]

I’ll add to what Chris wrote.  

Right now passage of the bill appears likely in the House but uncertain in the Illinois Senate.  This is where we should concentrate our efforts.  Call your own state senator or, a key vote is Senator Susan Garrett, who happens to be my senator and the Majority Whip.  I have spoken with her and right now she’s a ‘maybe'.  Even if you’re not her constituent it would be great if you could call her Springfield office, 217-782-3650, and ask her to support SB 1566.  

The DNR is currently almost a collapsing agency.  This is not crying wolf.  The issues we all care about will suffer badly if the DNR does not get the funding this bill will provide.   I’ve attached a fact sheet on the bill.  
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Thank you for making the call as soon as possible!

Donnie

Donnie Dann
Highland Park IL 60035
Office: 847-266-2222
Cell: 847-997-1011
donniebird at yahoo.com


On May 29, 2012, at 4:53 PM, Christine Williamson wrote:

Hi,

I am sure that everyone on this list knows that a dedicated funding source for IDNR is needed and that bills have been moving through the Illinois legislature. 

It's D-Day. Please write an email or call your state representative and ask them to support Senate Bill 1566 which would impose a modest $2 tax that would provide IDNR with dedicated funding. 

Feel free to modify my letter to my state rep Ann Williams to reflect your own feelings or experience and just send it on to your own rep. 

Your call or email might make the difference in saving birds and habitat by saving the IDNR. Act tonight!

Thanks,
Christine Williamson


>> Subject: Please vote yes on Senate Bill 1566 to protect the IDNR
>> 
>> Hi Ann,
>> 
>> I am writing to ask that you support Senate Bill 1566 which would
>> provide dedicated revenue to the Illinois Department of Natural
>> Resources.
>> 
>> My husband and I are avid bird watchers and in addition to birding
>> throughout Chicago parks in our district, also travel all over Illinois
>> with friends and family to visit state parks.
>> 
>> For passive use eco-tourists like birdwatchers, access to the many
>> important natural areas within Illinois is crucial.

> In addition, the IDNR's management of these natural areas for the benefit of birds and other wildlife is equally vital. Eco-tourism dollars spent by nature watchers throughout the state is hard to calculate, but I can assure you that our family alone spends in excess of $1,500 per year in local communities as part of our visits to Illinois state parks.
>> 
>> If state parks are closed, if facilities become run down, if park security is lax and if habitat management is compromised, that flow of much needed eco-tourism dollars into communities near state parks will dry up.
>> 
>> We also meet many local people while birdwatching the length and
> breadth of Illinois and we know that state parks in many cases replace
> the excellent forest preserve and public park systems that are much
> more common up here in northeastern Illinois.

> Local people need access to excellent public lands for many active and passive uses and the IDNR provides through its management of state parks and other properties.
>> 
>> I represented Sierra Club at the most most recent Illinois Conservation Congress where dedicated funding for the IDNR was enthusiatically supported by a wide swath of constituent user groups. It is uncommon to find this kind of unified support for IDNR funding from such a diverse list of user groups from hunters and anglers to horseback riders, bike groups, youth outdoor education advocates and environmental groups.
>> 
>> I think SB 1566 is the right vehicle to provide needed revenue for the IDNR.  It provides funds that cannot be swept.  The $2 license fee increase is about half the price of one gallon of gas and is much less than the cost of a grande latte from Starbucks!
>> 
>> This is a very affordable "tax" for every Illinois taxpayer that provides an enormous benefit for both the people and wildlife of Illinois.
>> 
>> I urge you to vote to support SB 1566.
>> 
>> Please let me know what your vote on SB 1566 is.
>> 
>> Thank you very much.
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> Christine Williamson
>> Chair
>> Sierra Club Chicago Group
>> Home 773/935-8439
>> Cell 773/415-5217
>> 
Sent from my iPhone
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