Lobby Your Legislator for Better Funding for the Safety and Health of our Communities and Environment

Campaign dates: April 1, 2005 - May, 2005

Are you concerned about the environment?   Do you think Massachusetts legislators should be funding programs that work to protect and conserve our natural resources, and that aim to provide a safe and clean environment for generations to come?

If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, please call or write your state legislator and tell them how you feel. Your voice is urgently needed on Beacon Hill.  Tell your legislators that you want to see the environment adequately funded.

Frequently asked questions and talking points:

Why is this important?  Why are we asking for more money for the environment?
How do funding cuts affect the environment and our communities?  
What can I do?

Why is this important?  Why are we asking for more money for the environment? ^back to the top

·        The environmental operating budget in Massachusetts has gone from a high of 1.4¢ of every dollar going toward environmental protection to the current 0.69¢.

·        As of 2000, Massachusetts ranked 44^th out of 50 states in environmental spending per capita, and 48^th as a proportion of the total budget. 

·        The total budget for Massachusetts, when adjusted for inflation, has increased by one-third since 1989.  Yet, the state is spending $86 million LESS on environmental protection, than it did over fifteen years ago.  That amounts to a 33% decreases in the environmental budget.

How do funding cuts affect the environment and our communities?
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·        The Department of Conservation and Recreation has seen its budget slashed by 43% since 1989, resulting in dangerous conditions on some pathways, trails, and public parks, an increase in illegal dumping of trash and hazardous material in state and urban parks, and fewer park programs for children.

·        The Department of Environmental Protection has lost over a quarter of its staff in the last three years.  As a result, water monitoring of rivers, streams, and lakes has decreased significantly, leading to less information on pollution water bodies available to the public.

·        The Riverways program, one of Massachusetts' most popular and well-known environmental programs due to its wide constituency and extensive work with local organizations and communities, continues to be threatened by budget cuts.  Another cut in the budget for Riverways will seriously hinder the work done by the program to restore rivers to their natural state, improve the health of fisheries, and provide technical assistance to communities looking to restore and protect their local rivers and streams.

What can I do?
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1.      Come to the Environmental Lobby Day at the State House on Tuesday, March 29^th at 2:00 pm.  We will be meeting with House Ways and Means in room 251 at 2:00 pm to voice our concerns and to ask for an increased environmental budget for Fiscal Year 2006.  People will be meeting outside room 251 at approximately 1:45 pm to distribute materials needed for your meetings with legislators.

2.      Make appointments with the legislators in your district for the afternoon of March 29^th to discuss the environmental budget.  To find out who your legislators are, and to get their contact information, click here.  

3.      If you can't attend the Lobby Day, please arrange to meet or speak with your legislator within the next 2 weeks, by April 12, 2005.  The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to finalize their budget recommendations by mid-April.  It only takes a few minutes to call or visit your legislator.  They will be happy to hear from you!

4.      For more information about the environmental budget, and the recommended funding increases for each environmental agency, please go the website of Environmental League of Massachusetts.  The Green Budget Fiscal Year 2006 is available on this website and has lots of information about the environmental programs and their budgets.

If you would like further information about the environmental budget, please contact Jessica Stephens Siler at the Environmental League of Massachusetts.  Jessica can be reached at 617-742-2553 or via email.