MCV Legislative Hotlist: March 2, 2009
Submitted by Sarah Cobler on March 2, 2009 - 6:04pm
March 2nd, 2009
Dear Conservation Voter,
The dust is clearing after a busy transmittal week, and legislators are back in Helena after a long weekend.
We hope they return refreshed and energized, and ready to pass legislation that effectively protects the open spaces, clean air and water and the great quality of life that makes Montana unique.
Several energy efficiency and conservation measures you may remember from weeks past (HB 27, HB 98, and SB 49) moved to committee in the next chamber, and active citizens can help ensure their passage.
On the flip side, bills that degrade current environmental protections transmitted from their house of origin as well. Read the full report on these bills in the MCV transmittal report. Read on to learn how you can help.
Energy conservation takes center stage this week.
Three simple but important energy conservation bills make their way to committee in the early part of March.
Energy efficiency and conservation should be a bipartisan issue. While the conservation community strongly believes that saving energy means less carbon heating up the planet, it also clearly makes good financial sense.
This Thursday, the House State Administration committee considers Senate Bill 49 (Sen. Dave Wanzenried, D-Missoula). This bill would require a minimum energy efficiency standard for new state buildings and state buildings undergoing major renovations. The requirement would be that these buildings exceed the energy efficiency code by 20%.
Contact members of the House State Administration committee and ask them to support SB 49, the energy efficiency in state buildings bill.
Next week, the Senate Energy committee will consider House Bill 27 (Rep. Wiseman, D-Bozeman) on Tuesday March 10th and House Bill 98 (Rep. Barrett, D-Missoula) on Thursday March 12th.
House Bill 27 extends the great state program that funds energy efficiency projects for low-income residents, called the Universal Systems Benefit program. The USB program started in 1999, and has helped weatherize thousands of homes since. This measure simply removes the sunset, recognizing the popularity and necessity of the program.
House Bill 98 gives state buildings a boost to make physical improvements in their buildings to increase energy efficiency.
Please contact members of the Senate Energy committee and ask them to support HB 27 and HB 98, two great energy efficiency bills.
Please help kill bills that erode environmental protections.
The House of Representatives will hear several bad bills coming over from the Senate in upcoming weeks.
It is likely that legislators in the House Energy committee will hear all of these bills, and have the opportunity to stop them.
So.... here's how you can help.
The Senate will hear House Bill 483 (Rep. Llew Jones R-Conrad), which you've heard about before. Like SB 387, the bill cuts citizens out of the environmental permit appeal process, a critical check and balance on government actions. The bill gives corporations unequal and unfair access to the courts. While the Senate must hear about our opposition to the bill, we also need to continue to talk to Gov. Schweitzer.
Please contact Gov. Schweitzer and ask him to veto HB 483 if it makes it to his desk. Reach him by phone at 444-3111, or send him a message here.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Cobler, Program Director and Lobbyist
Montana Conservation Voters
sarah@mtvoters.org| Attachment | Size |
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| senatehotlist20090302.pdf | 21.69 KB |
| househotlist20090302.pdf | 25.17 KB |
