ACTION ALERT from the Iowa Environmental Council:
BUDGET CUTS COULD CLOSE THE LEOPOLD CENTER

The Governor will convene a special session of the Legislature next Tuesday, May 28 to deal with the state's deepening budget crises.  More cuts need to be made to the coming fiscal year (FY03) budget in light of reduced revenue projections.

In the proposed Republican budget-released yesterday-environmental funding takes a disproportionately large cut.

Environmental programs currently get only 1.2% of general fund and infrastructure appropriations, but 9% of the proposed cuts comes on the back of environmental programs.  Iowa already is last in the nation in per capita spending on the environment, and the proposed cuts put us even farther behind.  If the cuts take effect, Iowa will spend only 0.7% of the state budget on environmental protection.

The tragedy of these cuts and anemic funding is that these environmental programs are proactive, preventative solutions to problems.  Iowa's environmental initiatives are some of the most cost-effective public expenditures, when we consider the cost of clean up or restoration after damage has already occurred.   They're in line with a core Iowa value-"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."   Today's costs for these programs are minuscule compared to the benefits Iowa receives for the tomorrows to come.

You need to contact Legislators and the Governor before Tuesday and tell them to protect Iowa's environmental spending in the Environment First Fund, and particularly the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

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ENVIRONMENT FIRST FUND

The Council is shocked at the proposed cuts to the Environment First Fund.  This fund was created just two years ago and was hailed as a great step forward in Iowa's commitment to the environment.  The proposed budget cuts this fund by 53%-to less than $12.4 million out.

The Environment First Fund includes appropriations for the following programs, among others:

Farm Demonstration Program
REAP
Ag Drainage Well closure
Soil Conservation Cost Sharing
Brownfield Redevelopment
Geographic Information System Development
Wetland Incentive Program
Watershed Protection Plan
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Water Quality Monitoring
Volunteer Water Monitoring (IOWATER)
Water Quality Protection
Air Quality Monitoring Program
Lake Dredging

While not all of these programs suffer cuts, several programs are completely eliminated in the Republican's budget-such as Brownfield Redevelopment and Farm Demonstration.  Others are severely cut.  REAP suffers an 80% cut, from $10 million to $2 million-ending many local community improvement projects.


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LEOPOLD CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Of particular concern to the Council is the drastic cut to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.  On the table is a cut of $1 million, reducing the Center's budget by 86%.  The budget cut from $1.16 million last year to less than $200,000 effectively ends this nationally recognized, innovative program supporting sustainable agricultural development.

Losing the Leopold Center would be a catastrophe.  The Center serves as an incubator for sustainable agricultural practices that will pay significant dividends down the road-in cleaner water, less soil erosion, and greater agricultural vitality.  These budget cuts to the Leopold Center today sacrifice significant economic and environmental benefits tomorrow.

The Leopold Center has helped advance such promising innovations as:

… The buffer strip/watershed reconstruction project at Bear Creek-which has been designated as a National Demonstration Watershed.  Expanding use of the practices learned in Bear Creek drastically reduces soil erosion, improves water quality, and expands wildlife habitat.
… Hoop house hog confinement systems-which are environmentally and animal friendly.
… Early support for Iowa's grape and wine industry-which has the potential to impact agricultural diversity, value added production, and tourism.
… Sole support of long-term research by ISU's only organic crop specialist-which provides a key component in Iowa's growing organic production sector (from 13,000 acres in 1995 to 150,000 in 1999).
… Facilitation of local food systems-which paved the way for creation of Iowa's Local Food Task Force and the Governor's Food Policy Council.  This trend promises to reunite rural producers and urban consumers in a vibrant food production and distribution model.

The proposed Republican budget cuts to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture are shortsighted.  Such a loss would have detrimental long-term impacts on the viability of Iowa's agricultural economic base.  The cuts sacrifice one of the most innovation and beneficial long-term investment we can make with public money.

If farmers are to meet the challenge of better environmental stewardship, we must not stop developing new methods and better tools for them to use.  And if we truly seek means to help keep family farms viable and prosperous, we cannot allow these cuts to the Leopold Center-one of the most innovative resources supporting family farmers.


PLEASE CONTACT THE GOVERNOR AND YOUR LEGISLATOR THIS WEEK AND OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PRESERVE THE LEOPOLD CENTER, TO NOT THROW AWAY WHAT WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Please contact the following:

1. Your own state representative.  Home and office contact information can be found at the Iowa General Assembly website at <http://www.legis.state.is.us>.  Or call the House switchboard at 515.281.3221.

2. Your own state senator. Home and office contact information can be found at the Iowa General Assembly website at <http://www.legis.state.is.us>.  Or call the Senate switchboard at 515.281.3371.

[Legislator email addresses are <[log in to unmask]>.

3. The Governor's office.  You can call the governor's office at 515.281.5211 or send an email to the Governor's executive secretary < [log in to unmask]>.

4. Stewart Iverson, Senate Majority Leader.  Home: 515.852.3350.  Office: 515.281.3560.  Email: <[log in to unmask]>.

5. Christopher Rants, House Majority Leader.  Home: 712.274.8874.  Office: 515.281.3221.  Email: <[log in to unmask]>.

6. Forward this e-mail to your networks.  It is vital that legislators hear from as many Iowans as possible. Your e-mail network is an important tool to help protect Iowa's environment.  Please use it.


Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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