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Illinois Legislative Leaders Recognized for Championing Open Space Funding

CHICAGO, IL – The Nature Conservancy is pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions that several key Illinois legislators have made to protect our open spaces. Each year the Conservancy reviews legislative proceedings to determine if there are exceptional actions that merit special recognition through the Acorn Award.  Policy decisions that support conservation of our lands and waters are deciding factors. The Acorn Award may recognize state and federal elected officials and other policymakers.

From left: Sen. Susan Garrett; Rep. Karen May; Senate President Emil Jones Jr.; Rep. Elizabeth "Beth" Coulson; Sen. Pamela Althoff.  Photo © 2004, The Nature Conservancy

The Conservancy recently honored legislative leaders in the Illinois General Assembly with an Acorn Award for their leadership roles in protecting conservation sources needed by Illinois communities to protect natural, open areas.

Recognized were Senate President Emil Jones Jr. (D-Chicago),  Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago), Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville), Senators Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) and Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal), and Representatives Karen May (D-Highland Park) and Elizabeth “Beth” Coulson (R-Glenview). The signature Acorn Award is given by the Conservancy to recognize legislative leaders whose actions make a difference to critical conservation issues in Illinois.

“Their leadership was vital in protecting important natural areas in Illinois. The leadership demonstrated by these legislators in driving the restoration of funding for the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF) and the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Fund (OSLAD), and in protecting the funding source, the real estate transfer tax, was crucial for conservation in Illinois,” said Bruce Boyd, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. “In addition to improving our quality of life and our communities, these programs offer protection to natural areas, make Illinois a more desirable place to live, and encourage people to move and locate businesses in this state.”

Senate President Emil Jones Jr. (D-Chicago): During the Spring 2004 legislative session he responded to his caucus push for full funding for open space programs administered by the Department of Natural Resources, and supported full funding during budget negotiations with the legislative leaders and the Governor Rod R. Blagojevich.

Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago): Remained firm in his commitment to oppose the Governor’s proposals to zero the NAAF and OSLAD funding and sweep the real estate transfer tax revenues into the General Revenue Fund.

Minority Leader Tom Cross Photo © 2004, The Nature Conservancy

Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego): During the spring 2004 legislative session he held to his caucus position for full funding for the open space programs NAAF and OSLAD, funded through the real estate transfer tax.

Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville): Remained firm in his commitment to oppose the Governor’s proposals to zero the NAAF and OSLAD funding and sweep the real estate transfer tax revenues into the General Revenue Fund.

Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest): Well-planned community development is a priority for her. As part of that priority, she was instrumental in ensuring that the open space programs of NAAF & OSLAD were fully funded in the past spring legislative session while at the same time protecting the funding source for these programs, the real estate transfer tax.

Senator Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal): Called a news conference in April 2004, along with many of her caucus colleagues to highlight the priorities for the Senate Republicans in the legislative session. One of the priorities was reinstating funding and protecting the funding source for open space programs, the NAAF and OSLAD through the real estate transfer tax.

Representative Karen May (D-Highland Park): Protecting open space and the environment are priorities. She introduced and helped pass the Wetlands Protection Act in 2003 and spearheaded a bipartisan effort to reduce the levels of mercury in our environment. During the Spring 2004 legislative session she championed open space funding in the caucus and the full House, circulating a bipartisan letter in the House for sign-on. Her efforts helped protect and restore funding for the NAAF and OSLAD through the real estate transfer tax.

Representative Elizabeth “Beth” Coulson (R-Glenview): She was the champion for the House Republican caucus to reinstate full funding for open space programs. She worked with Representative May (D-Highland Park) on the bipartisan letter to the Governor and was a member of the bipartisan legislators group that met with Budget Director Filan to discuss open space funding. Her efforts resulted in the negotiated full funding for the NAAF and OSLAD in the final budget approved by the General Assembly.

(Note to media: photos available upon request. Please Contact Genie Lester at 312-759-8017 ext. 23 or glester@tnc.org)
 

The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.