Thank Joint Finance Committee members for their pro-Stewardship vote

Friday, June 8, 20007

Please take a moment to thank Joint Finance Committee members for their votes today for the Stewardship Fund

The Governor's proposal to renew and strengthen the state Stewardship Fund made it through the Joint Finance Committee today.   You will be pleased to know that Senator Alberta Darling joined with Democrats to defeat a motion that would have, among other things, frozen Stewardship at $60 million a year (versus the proposed increase to $105 million in the Governor's budget).   She was the only Republican to do so. She also voted against a proposal that would have allowed no more than 10% of Stewardship funds to go toward purchasing properties of 10 acres of less.  This would have severely limited our ability to purchase lands in urban areas, acquire additional lands for the Ice Age trail and other trails, and provide beach and boat access on rivers and lakes.

The state budget now goes to the Senate and Assembly for consideration.  There will be more to do in the weeks ahead to advance the proposal to renew and strengthen the Stewardship Fund.  For now, however, I have a very simple request -- please take a few moments to thank members of the Joint Finance Committee for their support of the Stewardship Fund.
 
The following committee members in particular should be recognized for defeating a motion that would have, among other things, frozen Stewardship at $60 million a year and allowed the program to sunset in 2010.  Please note that Senator Alberta Darling broke ranks with other Republicans on the committee and joined with Democrats in opposing these proposals.
 
Senator Russ Decker (D)
(608) 266-2502
 
Senator Dave Hansen (D)
 (608) 266-5670
 
Senator  Lena Taylor (D)
 (608) 266-5810
 
Senator Robert Jauch (D)
 (608) 266-3510
 
Senator Mark Miller (D)
 (608) 266-9170
 
Senator John Lehman (D)
 (608) 266-1832
 
Senator Alberta Darling (R)
 (608) 266-5830

Representative Mark Pocan (D)
 (608) 266-8570
 
Representative Pedro Colón (D)
 (608) 267-7669

We've asked for their support, now we must thank them for their leadership.  I cannot overstate the importance of this.

For more information on the Committee's votes today on the Stewardship Fund, visit our state budget update or go to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel or Wispolitics.

Thanks to everyone, and have a great weekend.

Vicki

If you have any questions or need extra assistance, please contact Vicki Elkin at 608-441-8819 or stewardship [at] gatheringwaters.org.

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"The Stewardship fund has fulfilled its promise to the people of Wisconsin by preserving thousands of acres for use by sportsmen, conservationists and nature enthusiasts alike. The time, however, has come where we must devise a new program and strategy to ensure Wisconsin enters the 21st century as America's environmental leader."
– Governor Tommy Thompson on Stewardship Reauthorization in 1998