Partners In Conservation lobby for OSLAD funds

Nearly 1,000 Partners in Conservation participated in Lobby Day activities on May 18 in Springfield. They heard comments by the Governor, and by members of the House and Senate leadership. (Photos by Barb Valiukenas.)

Governor Jim Thompson pledged his support for a "... viable conservation, recreation and resource protection agenda . . ." during a rally at the State House.

Participants enthusiastically tackled a "prairie meal" served during the evening picnic at Conservation World in the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Park commissioners and administrators were among the nearly 1,000 members of Partners in Conservation who met at the State Capitol this spring in support of dedicated funding for conservation programs.

Goals/objectives

The coalition's goal was to persuade State lawmakers to:

• fully fund conservation programs begun in the past several years.

• approve dedicated revenue sources for conservation.

• approve the Department of Conservation's (DOC's) Fiscal Year 1989 budget in the form presented to the General Assembly.

Ted Flickinger, executive director, Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), and a member of the coalition's Steering Committee, challenged the participants to ". . . stand up and speak out in behalf of conservation interests."

"We meet our critical responsibility to present and future residents by acquiring and preserving natural areas ... by protecting endangered species ... by providing affordable recreational opportunities for people of all ages . . . and by providing strong natural resource education and interpretation programs," Flickinger explained.

"However, we cannot continue this fine tradition without legislative awareness of what we do . . . the importance of our efforts . . . and the urgency to have consistent State support for our programs, especially funding for open space land acquisition and development."

Gubernatorial support

During a rally at the State Capitol, Gov. Jim Thompson praised the coalition's efforts to channel the interests of all conservation-oriented constituents into a unified group.

"I will give you all the help I can to make sure Illinois has a viable conservation, recreation and resource protection agenda," Thompson said.

However, he stated that funding levels necessary to carry out many conservation programs would be difficult to secure without a tax increase.

"A strong effort to lobby the General Assembly and to inform the public must be continued," Thompson stressed.

The coalition indicated support for a tax increase if new revenues are spent for programs in conservation, recreation and environmental quality.

Additional speakers

Other rally speakers included Senate Pres. Philip J. Rock (D-Oak Park), and State Reps. Peg Breslin (D-Ottawa) and Robert Churchill (R-Antioch), and State Sen. Jack Schaffer (R-Crystal Lake).

Deputy Gov. Jim Reilly and State Conservation Dir. Mark Frech addressed the group during a morning session.

Background

The Partners in Conservation coalition was organized in March 1987 to provide a stronger voice for conservation interests in Illinois. Along with the IAPD, its members include the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, Illinois Sportsmen's Legislative Coalition, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois Wildlife Federation, Illinois Department of Conservation and other conservation groups throughout the State.

The coalition marks the first time that Illinois conservation leaders have joined forces to achieve common goals.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 July/August 1988