2/12/04
Join LSP members and hundreds of our allies from other conservation and environmental organizations from around the state for:

Minnesota Environmental Partnership’s
Citizens’ Day at the Capitol
Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• 8:00 a.m: Protect Our Waters Issue and Democracy Training. Training at the Science Museum of Minnesota (120 West Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul) in Discovery Hall. Continental breakfast provided. Call for more details and directions.

• 12 noon: Rally at the State Capitol Rotunda. (Buses shuttle from the Science Museum to the Capitol.)

• 12:30 – 4:00 p.m: Meet with Legislators at the State Capitol (Buses shuttle to the Science Museum throughout the afternoon.)

Register today! Call Bobby King at 507-523-3366 (Southeast), Mike McMahon at
612-722-6377 (Minneapolis), or Paul Sobocinski at 507-342-2323 (Southwest).

Transportation is available. Buses are leaving from some areas of the state
and carpools from others.

LSP’s 2004 Legislative Priorities

Protecting Township Rights: Corporate agri-business and other large developers have made it clear that they want to eliminate or weaken township rights. Currently townships can create local standards above the minimum set by the county or state. Townships use this power to protect the health and safety of local residents. We will not let township democracy be weakened or replaced with a state bureaucracy.

Assistance to Family Dairy Farmers: The dairy industry is still made up of small to medium-sized independent producers, but dairy farmers have been struggling with low prices. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Land O’ Lakes, AgStar Financial Services, the Agri-Growth Council and others are pushing to vertically integrate the dairy industry and replace our family farmers with corporate backed dairy factories. We will support a package of bills that help independent dairy farmers.

Minnesota Environmental Partnership’s Protect Our Waters Agenda The Minnesota Environmental Partnership (MEP) is a coalition of over 90 environmental and conservation groups, including LSP. LSP supports MEP’s “Protect Our Waters” legislative agenda, which includes:

• Rewarding farmers who voluntarily protect rivers and streams through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). When farmers act as good stewards of the land and voluntarily set aside a portion of their marginal land to help keep our rivers clean and provide wildlife habitat, they should be compensated.

• Creating a legacy of clean water, protected lands and healthy communities through $157 million in bonding for our environment. MEP is proposing a bonding package that makes clean water a priority.

• Protecting community and township rights. Local governments must maintain the right to set higher local standards than the state or county minimum standards.

• Reducing Phosphorous that Turns Our Lakes Green with Algae. Accomplish this through statewide adoption of phosphorous free lawn fertilizer and making all dishwashing detergent phosphorous free.

• Cleaning up Minnesota’s most contaminated waters. Minnesota’s lakes rivers and groundwater are contaminated with mercury, phosphorous, fecal coliform bacteria and other pollutants. MEP supports finding a fair plan to raise at least $75 million in state funds to clean up these polluted waters.

Smart Investments and Practical Solutions for Minnesota

TAKE ACTION!

Call LSP and Register for Citizens’ Day at the Capitol on Tues., Feb. 25. Call Bobby King at 507-523-3366 (Southeast), Mike McMahon at 612-722-6377 (Minneapolis), or Paul Sobocinski at 507-342-2323 (Southwest). Transportation is being coordinated from around the state if you need a ride. Call or write your state legislators.

Let your elected officials know you want them to stand up for township rights and these other important issues. To get the names and contact information of your legislators, call the Minnesota House of Representatives at 800-657-3550 and the Senate at 888-234-1112.