Audubon Lobby Day is February 23, 2005

Every year Audubon members impress the conservation and environmental community by turning out more members for lobby efforts than any other group. This year be part of the action!

Audubon members meet in the morning at the Capitol to get everyone up to speed on talking points. After lunch, groups of three or more are sent to their respective legislators (we’ll meet with Senator Nienow and either Rep. Nelson or Rep. Eastlund.) Audubon Minnesota makes the appointments, which usually last 15 minutes or less. It’s a great way to get to know your representative and to let him know that environmental issues matter to us!

This year, we’ll be urging our reps to pass a bill that would give the DNR additional enforcement tools to make sure ATV users obey the law restricting ATVs to designated trails in state forests. Other tools that would benefit the state are posted speed limits, creating a citizens’ complaint hotline and excessive noise limits.

From 1998 to 2003, registrations for ATVs in Minnesota more than doubled, to over 206,000, a number on par with snowmobiles. The added stress on public lands, particularly state forests, caused the 2003 legislature to limit these vehicles to designated trails, but the ruling has been widely ignored. Violators have viewed the fines as the “cost of doing business.” This bill would give the “cost” more heft.

We will also be asking our reps to fully fund the DNR this year. Over the last four years, funding to the DNR has decreased by 37%, even though general fund revenues, from which funding comes, have increased. Audubon is especially interested in funding for the Division of Ecological Services within the DNR. This entity includes the Scientific and Natural Areas, Nongame Programs and the County Biological Survey, all of which are directly connected to the health of bird populations in Minnesota. We will be carpooling. For more information, call Sue Leaf (257-6044) or Dayle DeClercq (257-5045.)

Contact information for our legislators:

 

Generic Minnesota State Legislature http://www.leg.state.mn.us/

Minnesota Secretary of State's office:

Elections and Voting: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/election/index.html