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Legislative Updates 2008Sierra Club 2008 Legislative Update #2 January 18, 2008 Hello Conservation Friends! The 2008 Legislative Session started on Monday with the State of the State address. The Governor talked about a transportation system more focused on rail and transit, protecting riparian areas, promoting a strong renewable and energy efficiency program, and conserving state trust lands. All of these present significant challenges, but they are also important opportunities to move the state forward in a positive direction. Getting a transportation plan that includes more than window dressing for transit and rail will be difficult with the current legislature, many of whom are enamored with concrete and asphalt. It looks like we have agreement on some issues related to the off-highway vehicle bill and that will be introduced in the coming days. We continue to work on several energy bills and concepts, as well as to comment and review language on state trust lands. It appears that they are on track to introduce a record number of bills, which is why we need Representative Chad Campbell's bill to limit the number of bills per member. The regularly standing committees are not meeting this week as they focus on the fiscal year 2008 budget shortfall. I would be extremely surprised if they have agreement on that by week's end, which is the intent of doing this all week. Don't forget to mark your calendar for Environmental Day! See the details at the end of this message. Also, start making appointments with legislators now. If you need help with that, would like us to make the appointment for you, or would like someone to go the meeting with you, please contact me right away. Coming up this week: Monday, January 21 The Legislature will be closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Tuesday, January 22 Joint Appropriations Committee at 9:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1 Several agency budgets will be considered. Wednesday, January 23 Joint Appropriations Committee at 9:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1 Several agency budgets will be considered. Thursday, January 24 Joint Appropriations Committee at 9:00 a.m .in House Hearing Room 1 Several agency budgets will be considered. Friday, January 25 Joint Appropriations Committee at 9:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1 Several agency budgets will be considered. 'For more information on bills we are tracking, go to http://arizona.sierraclub.org/political_action/tracker/. To email legislators go to http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp. If
you are not sure who your legislators are, please go to http://www.vote-smart.org (You
will need your 9-digit zipcode.) or call the House or Senate information
desks. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislators'
offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602)
926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House). Correspondence goes to
1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890. For more information on
legislation go to http://www.azleg.gov. Environmental Day at the Capitol Promote a Greener Arizona A Brighter Future A Cooler Planet Wednesday, February 6, 2008 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Please join us on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 for Environmental Day at the Arizona State Capitol, located at 1700 W. Washington in Phoenix, in the lobby of the Executive Tower. Governor Janet Napolitano will be our featured speaker. She will discuss the environmental programs outlined in her State of the State address and her work to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to promote clean renewable energy and energy efficiency. It will be a fun and interesting day. In the morning, we will serve a light breakfast and hear from some fantastic speakers including the governor and environmentally friendly legislators, as well as pass along a few lobbying tips. We strongly encourage you to set up an appointment with your legislators and will help you do so - just give me a call or send me an email. We can also accompany you for a meeting. (Try to set up your meetings for after 11am, if at possible.) There will be opportunities to attend various committee hearings in the afternoon as well. No experience is needed - just enthusiasm and a willingness to speak up for environmental protection. For more information or to r.s.v.p. contact Sandy Bahr at (602) 253-8633 or sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org. Please do let us know if you plan to attend, so we can have enough food and materials. We hope to see you there!
Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |