Governor Patrick's Budget: No Wildlife Funding
Last week Governor Patrick released his budget recommendations for FY2008. Despite efforts to educate him on the importance of wildlife protection adn the $1 million we requested to fund it, and despite a campaign promise to fund the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, there was no money in the governor's budget for wildlife protection.
Even though the Governor Patrick's budget is disappointing, there are a number of ways the TWW Coalition can weigh in yet to influence the final FY2008 budget (see a description of the budget process below).
Please contact you legislators now and ask them to support $1 million for the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program!
To find your state legislators, click here.
Background on the Budget Process
The budget process in Massachusetts is lengthy: about 7 months long.
The governor starts the process by releasing his budget recommendations first. Governor Patrick released his budget recommendations on February 28th. Click here to view the governor's budget.
Next, the House of Representatives Ways and Means committee will release its budget recommendations in mid-April. Once Ways and Means releases the budget, there is an amendment process where legislators and advocates urge changes to the budget. The House budget is finalized by the end of April/beginning of May.
After the House does its budget, the Senate Ways and Means committee releases its budget in mid-May. The Senate has a similar amendment process as the House, where legislators and advocates urge changes to the recommended budget. The Senate budget is finalized by the end of May/beginning of June.
The House and Senate budgets will differ in a number of key ways and therefore need to be consolidated into one budget. A Conference Committee is named with three Senators and three Representatives who reconcile the differences and release one joint budget in June.
This budget is then sent to the governor's desk to be signed or vetoed. The governor has the authority to veto or reduce specific line items, and often does so. The governor does not have the authority to increase line items. The governor returns any vetoes or amendments back the the legislature by early July.
The legislature than chooses which, if any, vetoes to override. In July, before the legislature recesses for its August break, it will take up those overrides and a final FY2008 budget is released.
Background on the Green Budget
Every year the Environmental League of Massachusetts and our Massachusetts Environmental Collaborative Partners release recommendations for the upcoming environmental budget called the Green Budget.
Our FY2008 Green Budget includes a request for $1 million for the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) within the Department of Fish and Game, which is a program directly involved with implementing the Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan.
In the FY2004 budget the NHESP lost all of its operating funding from the state, which had amounted to around $800,000 a year. It now functions only on a combination of bond money, voluntary donations from Massachusetts residents in the form of a check-off box on the state income tax return, and federal funds.
NHESP is one of the programs within MassWildlife that implements the State Wildlife Action Plan. In order to continue to receive federal funding to implement our Action Plan, the state must match dollar for dollar what the federal government is willing to provide, which was around $900,000 in FY2007.
Much of the $1 million recommended in the Green Budget for NHESP would qualify for the agency's federal match to implement the Wildlife Action Plan.
Please contact your state legislators and ask them to support funding the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program in the FY2008 budget.
To find your state legislators, click here.
Contact Megan at the Environmental League of MA at mamundson@environmentalleague.org or 617-742-2553 if you have any questions.
Join Teaming with Wildlife!
The Massachusetts Coalition is comprised of over 150 organizations and businesses. These include land trusts, watershed groups, outdoor organizations, environmental policy organizations, commercial whale watches, sportsmen and women groups, bed & breakfasts, and other businesses.
Joining Teaming with Wildlife is easy! Simply fill out and return the endorsement form. Forms can be faxed to 617-742-9656 or mailed to:
Teaming with Wildlife
Environmental League of Massachusetts
14 Beacon Street, Suite 714
Boston, MA 02108
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