ACTION ALERT! MCCC on the chopping block

[Todd Scott]

Senate Bill 799 was introduced today that would take the $20 million endowment for the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps (MCCC) and spend it to balance the 2007/2008 budget.

As it currently works, the DNR takes just the interest from this endowment and hires younger adults to work at our state parks and recreational areas on stewardship issues (and trails too.) This Senate Bill would likely end this program. It's also likely the DNR would lose matching federal grants that also support the program. Senate analysis of the bill

Below is the letter I've sent to my Senator, State Representative, and others. I am told the bill will likely be taken up during today's session. It may have already been voted on, but I don't know because I can't watch Senate TV at work.

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I am writing to express my strong opposition for Senate Bill 799 which would eliminate the Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps (MCCC) Endowment Fund.

DNR Parks has very little funding for stewardship activities and the MCCC has been a very cost effective means for filling some of that gap. Within Southeast Michigan they have been instrumental in protecting and enhancing our state recreation areas through prescribed burns, invasive species removal, tree planting, prairie restoration, and much more.

I was also recently at Sleepy Hollow State Park north of Lansing where the MCCC is responsible for trail work on the popular hiking and biking trail

I think the Senate Impact analysis puts this in perspective: “Once the program ended, those projects either would not be completed or would be completed by State park employees, who are paid from restricted funds supporting State parks. The elimination of the MCCC would put additional pressure on other State restricted funds, which are experiencing revenue concerns similarly to the General Fund. The expenditures from the MCCC Endowment Fund are used as a match for a Federal Wildlife Grant, which would be in jeopardy with the elimination of the program.”

I urge you to oppose this bill. I realize the dire budget crisis we are in, but I don’t want to see us accept very short term solutions (1 year) that will cost us forever into the future (and possibly mean the loss of federal match grants.)

[Todd Scott]

For contact information on your senator, visit http://senate.michigan.gov/ and For your representative, visit http://house.michigan.gov/

[scat silvurz]

jeez, talk about a money-grab.....

I suppose the same "lets burn our clothes to keep warm!" mentality is behind that bill.........

[Todd Scott]

So far, this bill has not been taken up and is still in the approp. committee. There's still may be time to call or send emails.

[Todd Scott]

Bad news: The bill reported out of committee. Please call your Senator! Here are the phone numbers:
http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/ ... rs2003.htm

[mmba7572]

I checked out the swit's revision, the original & the senate analysis.

The mcc is "endowed" (funded) by the state every year. Last year was about a million, this year the gov jenny recommended half a mil.

8 people are currently employed by das state.
(thats $62,500 per wet behind the ear punk)

Swit's revision grabs the $20 Million they've accumalated since 1984, and leave the program non functional.

And why shouldn't we let the program die?

how much further could that .5 to 1 million go if the work was done by private firms?

when it become das state's responsibility to run co-op programs?

and gee wouldn't it be nice ithere was like a special intrest and advocacy groups out there made up of mountain bikers that would gladly volunteer to maintain & build mountain bike trails?

[Todd Scott]

No, the MCCC is not funded every year. There's a $20 million corpus in the endowment. The legislature appropriates money roughly equivalent to the interest earned on that corpus. SB 799 would spend that $20 million towards the $1.75 billion dollar deficit.

The MCCC employees are pair $6.95 an hour -- minimum wage -- with no health care. The MCCC costs also involve training, equipment, and administration.

If this bill passes and the program dies, there is no money to pay anyone, government or private, to do this work. For more information on the program visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-15 ... --,00.html

[Todd Scott]

Unfortunately this bill passed the Senate with one nay -- Senator Patty Birkholz. The Senate did add an amendment directing the DNR to raise the money ($1 milllion) from corporate sponsorship to keep the program going. In other recent legislation, the DNR was directed to raise another $5 million per year in corporate sponsorship. As a result, you can expect to see more corporate signage and naming rights within our state parks and rec areas.

You can still make a difference by contacting your state representative and blocking this in the House. At this time I do not know if the Governor intends to sign this bill should it reach her desk.

[scat silvurz]

Which means that one will probably be able to get some Hooter's Chicken Wings right at Sleeping Bear Dunes.........

Or, some Mountain Dew branded "EXTREME" nature parks.....

It's really not so bad, after all, it will give the hunters some very entertaining signage in which to sight in their rifles and shotguns.....

[Augie]

Hooters wings, Parks, is there anything wrong with that?

Maybe some of the Female Rangers could wear the uniforms.

Scratch that, I've seen many that I would advise against wearing tank tops and short shorts.

How about a Budweiser sponsorship, and beer vending machines?