The Governor is holding the Land for Maine’s Future bonds hostage as a political bargaining chip.�Recently, both the House and Senate voted by over two-thirds in favor of�LD 1378, as amended, a bill that�would require the Governor to release voter-approved bonds unless there are legitimate, non-political reasons for holding them.
The Governor has made clear he will veto LD 1378.�It’s critical that two-thirds of the Legislature vote to override the veto and release the LMF bonds.�
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For more than two decades, the highly successful�Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) Program�has provided critical funding to protect forestlands, shorelines, working farms and waterfronts, salt marshes, mountain summits and other treasures of Maine’s natural heritage for generations to come.�
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LMF funds have protected land in each of Maine’s 16 counties, where families�can enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, snowmobiling, camping, skiing and other outdoor activities.�This program has provided essential infrastructure that helps preserve Maine’s unique character and supports our natural resource based economy.�With all that LMF has done, it is no wonder why over 60% of Maine voters support this program.
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For the second time in two years, the Governor is withholding $11.5 million in voter-approved LMF bonds until the Legislature agrees to significantly increase timber harvesting on public lands, a completely unrelated matter.
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Please contact�your legislators�and thank them for voting in favor of LD 1378 if they voted for it and urge them to also vote to override the Governor’s veto.�If they didn’t vote for LD 1378, please ask them to vote to override the Governor’s veto.� �
You can see how your senator voted�here�and your representative�here.�Representatives who voted Yes voted with us in support of the bill. The vote in the Senate was on whether or not to kill the bill;�Senators who voted No voted with us by voting against killing the bill.�
For more information, please go to our�web�page about Conservation Funding�or�please contact:
Maine Audubon Staff Attorney and Advocate
jgray@maineaudubon.org
(207) 781-2330 x224

