Attend Candidate Forums to support conservation funding

Mon September 22 2008
Posted Sep 22, 2008
6,274

Please attend a forum on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund The Sustainable Funding Coalition, a diverse group of Iowa organizations (including INHF) that works for sustainable conservation funding, is sponsoring a series of candidate forums on the proposed Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. So you can make your voice heard on this important issue, this e-mail provides background information on the forums, a list of forum dates & locations, and pre-registration instructions. About the Fund: The proposed Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund would provide a permanent funding source to support efforts to improve and preserve Iowa’s water quality, soils, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation opportunities. To create the fund, proposed legislation mandates that 3/8ths of a cent from state sales tax revenue will be appropriated for the Trust Fund the next time the Iowa legislature approves a sales tax increase. The Sustainable Funding Coalition hopes to pass Trust Fund legislation during Iowa’s 2009 legislative session. NOTE: This bill does not raise taxes, nor does it give voters the ability to raise the sales tax—only the legislature can do that. About the forums: Ten candidate forums scattered throughout the state provide a chance for citizens and legislators/candidates to discuss this legislation together. Please consider attending the forum nearest you to learn more about this proposal, show your legislators/candidates that Iowans care about conservation funding, and promote passing the needed legislation for this fund during Iowa’s 2009 legislative session. How to pre-register & attend: Find the forum nearest you in the list below and then pre-register at http://conservation-candidate-forum.speedsurvey.com. NOTE: Pre-registration is critical because individual events may be canceled if pre-registration numbers are low. Schedule of Forums Grinnell 9/24/08 @ 6:30 pm Old Glove Factory, 733 Broad St. (part of Grinnell College) Independence 9/25/08 @ 6:30 PM Heartland Acres (the big, barn-like building on the west side of Independence off HWY 20) Perry 9/29/2008 @ 6:30 PM IACCB - Forest Park Musuem (south of Perry) Ames 9/30/2008 @ 6:30 PM Ames Public Library Fort Dodge 10/1/2008 @ 7 PM Iowa Central Community College - One Triton Circle Muscatine 10/4/2008 @ 9AM the Student Center at Muscatine Community College, 152 Colorado in Muscatine Mason City 10/6/2008 @ 6:30 Mason City Library Atlantic 10/8/08 @ 6:30 Cass County Community Center Des Moines 10/8/2008 @ 6:30 Izaak Walton League - DM Chariton 10/14/2008 @ 7 PM Pin Oak Nature Center on HWY 14 south of Chariton If you have questions about the forum, please contact Rosalyn Lehman, Campaign Coordinator, Sustainable Funding Coalition, at 515.202.7720 or rlehman@tnc.org.