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Action Alert

Letters to the Editor are needed on Budget

The lead editorial in Sunday's Des Moines Register underscored the importance 
of adequate funding for Iowa's environmental and conservation programs.

This is a top priority for the Iowa Environmental Council.

Iowa's conservation and environmental protection spending has been slashed 
42% in the past three years.  In the current budget year, Iowa spends just 
0.9% of discretionary funding on all conservation and environmental 
protection programs.  Iowa is near the bottom in spending on these programs 
compared to other states.

The budget recently submitted by the Governor may reverse this egregious 
trend, but the legislature has yet to develop its budget.

It is important that the media and lawmakers know that Iowans are paying 
attention to this situation and are concerned.

The editorial in The Des Moines Register is the result of a concerted and 
directed media campaign to raise awareness of the horrific budget cuts Iowa's 
environmental and conservation programs have faced.

Your letter to the editor of The Des Moines Register and/or your local 
newspaper will help achieve two goals.

1. The Des Moines Register and your local newspaper will know that 
environmental spending is an issue their readers care about.  This may result 
in greater coverage of the issue during the budgeting process and/or 
additional editorials.

2. Lawmakers will read about Iowa's support for adequate environmental 
appropriations.  Sometimes they dismiss editorials from newspapers, but 
lawmakers often give more credence to letters from average Iowa citizens.

Please review The Register's editorial by visiting: <
http://DesMoinesRegister.com/opinion/stories/c2125555/20303749.html>

Then take a few moments to draft a letter to the editor.  Send it to The Des 
Moines Register and/or your local newspaper.

Be sure to include the following points:

- (To The Register) Thank The Des Moines Register for its position and 
coverage of the issue.
- (To your local newspaper) Mention the recent Des Moines Register editorial 
and the urge the paper to provide editorial support for environmental and 
conservation program sin Iowa.
- Express your dismay at the cuts Iowa's conservation and environmental 
protection programs have suffered.
- Write of your support for increasing spending on the programs. 
- Remind lawmakers that you are a voter.

Also, remember these tips to increase the chances your letter is published:

- Be brief and to the point.  No more than 150 words.
- Mention the editorial title and date ("See the value in the environment", 
Feb. 2, 2003)
- Include your name and address and daytime telephone number.
- Be genuine.  Mention your personal connection to and/or concern for a 
particular environmental program in Iowa.  Express why you think this 
important.
- Type or email your letter.  Handwritten is acceptable, but it must be 
clearly legible.

Send your letters to:

Letters to the Editor
The Des Moines Register
P.O. Box 957
Des Moines, IA 50304

The fax number is (515) 284-8560

Or email to <[log in to unmask]>



Additional information on Iowa's conservation budget is available at  <
http://www.earthweshare.org/i_legislation.htm>.


If you would like help drafting or editing your letter, please contact Mark 
Bequeaith at the Iowa Environmental Council at 515/244-1194 or <
[log in to unmask]>.




Send the Register's editorial to your legislator


Purchase a copy of last Sunday's Des Moines Register, then clip and send the 
editorial to your elected officials.


If you write a letter to the editor, send your legislators a copy. 


That way, even if your letter isn't published, you're still helping ensure 
adequate funding for Iowa's environmental and conservation programs.


Legislative contact information can be found at <
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Legislators.html>.


The general mailing address is:


State Capitol Building
E 12 and Grand
Des Moines, IA  50319.





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