Betsy, I would like to thank-you for taking the time to address this important
issue with our state legislature.
However as I was reading your request to the state legislature, I wondered if
your/our concerns regarding our environmental heritage addressed in that letter
could not be addressed back to each of us.
Do we all have rain gardens in our yards which not only support clean water
efforts, but provide native species for pollinators and bird populations? Are
our yards and neighborhood parks barren and well cultivated lawns or are they
mostly native species garden spaces, supporting our cherished pollinators and
visiting avian, amphibian and reptilian neighbors sharing this planet with us.
Do our daily living choices involve a low carbon conservation policies: i.e.
changing our protein consumption from animal to plant based will save 1.5 tons
of greenhouse gases(GHG)/ year/person, driving a hybrid vehicle instead of
internal combustion vehicle saves 1 T GHG/ year/person, and living in energy
efficient homes (I grew up without a clothes dryer, now I need one) etc. will
in the long run protect the environments we cherish. Yes all very expensive to
establish and maintain. But if we are not committed to these daily practices to
support our values, can we really not understand the state legislatures
priorities? Do they not reflect our own values as demonstrated by our life
style choices?
I know I can not change the direction of state legislatures, but I can forever
evaluate, change and adapt to a more ethical (nature-oriented) life style.
Perhaps this responsibility needs to be returned to each of us. If enough of us
can evaluate, adapt, and change to daily practices that support our
nature-oriented values; our neighborhoods, cities, states, countries will
change. Martin Luther, Darwin, John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King
etc. were all unknown individuals with unknown followers living quiet peaceful
lives who evaluated, adapted and changed their daily lives and practices which
eventually changed the world.
We are the change, if we choose-not KY state legislatures.
Respectfully, tami sanderson
-----Original Message-----
From: Betsy Lang <betsylang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Ask <ask@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, May 16, 2014 9:23 pm
Subject: [ask] Fw: Budget
This is the only reply I got to my numerous emails to our state legislature
regarding the proposal to divert funding from conservation to the general fund.
And it doesn't even apply to what I wrote! Very discouraging.
Betsy
On Friday, May 16, 2014 10:09 AM, "Thayer, Damon (State Sen.) (LRC)"
<Damon.Thayer@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Betsy,
With the Kentucky General Assembly wrapping up the 2014 session on April 15, I
wanted to take a moment to thank you for contacting me to provide input on
issues that are important to you.
I believe the 2014 Budget Session was a success for a number of reasons. We
passed a balanced and fiscally responsible budget with no tax increases which
helps meet the needs of state agencies while being good stewards of tax
dollars. We passed a number of bills aimed at improving the health and
well-being of Kentuckians of all ages. Finally, we passed through the Senate a
number of measures that would have saved millions of taxpayer dollars –
measures that, unfortunately, our counterparts in the House of Representatives
did not approve.
Should you wish to view actions taken on legislation, you can access all bills
that were filed, as well as the vote history, by going to
www.lrc.ky.gov/legislation.htm.
Since the Kentucky General Assembly has completed its formal work for 2014, the
remainder of my trips to Frankfort this year will be to represent my
constituents in interim committee meetings and to fulfill my leadership duties
as the Senate Majority Floor Leader. If you have any thoughts about the work
we accomplished here for the past few months or want to voice your opinion
about next Session, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181.
Thank you again for your input during the session. It is an honor to serve you
in Frankfort.
Sincerely,
Damon Thayer
Senate Majority Floor Leader
-----Original Message-----
From: betsylang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:betsylang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 8:35 AM
To: Thayer, Damon (State Sen.) (LRC)
Subject: Budget
Title: Ms
First_Name: Betsy
Last_Name: Lang
Street: 103 Craigmoor Estates
City: Georgetown
State: Kentucky
Zip: 40324
Phone: 5028671118
Email: betsylang@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Budget
Message: I understand that Governor Beshear's budget proposes to divert funding
designated for the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund to the General
Fund. I emphatically oppose this proposal. We need to take a long term view
to protect Kentucky's natural resources, not a short-term view to "fix" a
current budget issue.
As Kentucky’s Legislature considers how best to meet our state’s needs I urge
no funds from the KHLCF be diverted to the general fund for other uses. The
protection of Kentucky’s land and waters, our natural heritage, are key to
maintaining our quality of life which, in turn, supports our efforts to attract
and retain talent and business and build a strong and vibrant economy.
IP Address: 184.43.20.248
Server Date & Time: 3/4/2014 8:34:40 AM
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