July 2010

Conservation Voters Legislative Year-in-Review:

2010: Water Matters

Milestone victories were achieved by South Carolina's conservation community in 2010. Despite prevailing economic and budget woes, several Common Agenda Priorities came out on top, including e-waste recycling, energy efficiency financing, and a compromise to finally permit how much water can be taken from our lakes and rivers. Funding for the landmark Conservation Bank and natural resource agencies like DNR was kept alive during a bare-bones budget year. We were also successful in holding the line on environmental protections as we defeated a Senate bill that would have allowed mountains of out-of-state trash to be burned on South Carolina soil.

Thursday, June 3 marked "Sine Die," the final day of the 2009-2010 legislative sessions — unpredictable at times due to intermittent furlough weeks, overlapping committee meetings, and political distractions. Fortunately, a sense of urgency prevailed in the waning days of the session. Please read more about how the Conservation Agenda fared below in our year-end Hotlist Wrap Up. (If you'd like to receive a shortened version of this weekly email about the progress of conservation legislation at the State House- when the Legislature returns in January- please email us here.)
 
We'd like to thank everyone who supported the team effort to turn our Common Agenda priorities into law:
conservation-minded legislators, active citizen volunteers and the members of Conservation Voters.

The conservation lobbyists were outstanding: Cary Chamblee (Sierra Club & Wildlife Federation), Christie McGregor (The Nature Conservancy of SC), Debbie Parker (Conservation Voters), and Patrick Moore, Dennis Glaves, Cathy Warner, Merrill McGregor and Hamilton Davis (Coastal Conservation League). Lobby Team volunteers made the difference as they came to Columbia every Tuesday to attend committee meetings, testify at hearings and speak with legislators. We also want to recognize the citizens who continue to say “no” to out of state trash, whether it’s opposing a mega dump in Marlboro or an incinerator in Chester County.

We’d especially like to thank the 36 organizations listed below, that represent more than 45,000 members, who supported our Conservation Common Agenda. 2010 marks the sixth year that Conservation Voters Education Fund has hosted the Agenda - and we are already looking toward the 2011-2012 legislative session.

Our issue teams begin meeting in July, followed by the priority setting session in September and the Conservation Leaders' Summit in November. “Home visits” will be scheduled with legislators again in the fall and we’ll be presenting the new Agenda to Senators and Representatives in early January. Conservation Voters needs your continued help to pass sensible laws to protect our environment and create a safe, clean and healthy future for all South Carolinians. Every pro-conservation bill passed today is a vote cast for our children's future. Join us.

Sincerely yours,

 

 

Ann S. Timberlake
Executive Director


Read the full story about how the Common Agenda priorities faired during the 2010 Legislative Session:

Protecting Clean Water
Preserving our Natural Heritage
Fueling our Economic Engine 
Stop Wasting South Carolina
Re-Energizing South Carolina
Standing up for Public Health
Offshore Drilling