VCN’s own Mary Rafferty is featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch laying out a pathway for the Northam administration to ensure his 2020-22 budget reflects Virginia’s shared priorities to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, protect our landscapes, and enhance our agencies.
…Virginia ranks 47th in budgeting for the protection and enhancement of our natural resources, less than 1% of the general fund. This lack of investment is particularly concerning in light of the many environmental rollbacks and budget cuts from the Trump administration — including efforts to water down the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and defund initiatives such as the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Gov. Ralph Northam made a bold commitment to ensure Virginia remains a backstop against these threats and becomes a leader in natural resources protection by increasing Virginia’s investment in its natural resources to 2% of the general fund. The crafting of the 2020-2022 budget is his opportunity to achieve this ambitious but much-needed goal. By investing the resources needed to ensure every Virginian has access to clean air, clean water and our natural landscapes, the governor can fulfill this commitment. The conservation community has laid out a pathway that ensures the governor’s budget reflects our shared priorities.
Read the op-ed in its entirety here.