Creating a Secure, Dedicated Funding Stream for the DNR

Governor Blagojevich’s recent budget cuts to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will result in the closure of 7 state parks and 14 historic sites across our state. The IDNR has already been cut by 25 percent in the past several years, and Illinois ranks last among Midwestern states in state-owned protected lands.

Unless Illinois legislators step in, Illinois's commitment to environmental protection will lag even further behind with each passing year.

Your state representative or state senator is able to help. We need a long-term solution for funding the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and saving vital state treasures like our state parks. We'd like you to call on your elected officials to provide a secure, dedicated funding stream for the Department of Natural Resources to ensure its funding can't be swept by the Governor's office or diverted for other priorities.

Follow these 3 easy steps to help out.
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Letter	Dear Senator -- Governor Blagojevich's recent budget cuts to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will strip the DNR of over $17 million in much-needed funds. Yet Illinois already lags behind all other Midwestern states in state-owned protected lands, and the DNR has seen its budget cut by 25% in recent years. This cannot stand. At a time when Illinois must make a stronger commitment to nature and the environment, some leaders in Springfield insist on taking us in the opposite direction. I'm calling on you to do better. And we don't need a patchwork solution that simply diverts funds from other important resources; we need a long-term solution that provides a secure funding source for the DNR. I urge you to show your commitment by calling for and supporting legislation that would provide a dedicated funding stream for the DNR.
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