River Prairie Group Lobbies Hard At Home
By Bea McLean
RPG activists lobbied up a storm this spring and summer, mustering up support
for wetlands protection, no new roads in pristine national forests, preservation
of Alaskan wildlife and nature areas, and other issues.
RPG Sierrans made their mark on the political system in Washington, DC (see
story in Lake & Prairie in this issue) and in politicians' Chicago area
home offices.
In May, RPG Vice Chair Linda Sullivan, along with Lynn Rotunno, RPG ExCom
member and Sierra staffer on the Alaska Coalition, and Colleen Sarna, of
the South Calumet group, visited U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert, R-District
13, at her home office in Clarendon Hills. "We talked to her about Alaska
issues and energy," Sullivan reported.
An RPG team lobbied Biggert again in June in Washington, DC during its expansive
visit. This time the group (Carol Knudsen and Frank Orto, as well as Terri
Treacey, an Illinois Chapter staffer) asked their congresswoman to vote in
favor of the Roadless Bill, HR-2369, which was being introduced into a congressional
committee that month. The bill proposed restoring the Clinton initiative
of prohibiting new roads in select national forest areas.
Although the bill died in committee in July, it did win Biggert's vote, and
the issue is expected to re-surface in the House next session. Sierrans are
asked to call Biggert (630-655-2052) and thank her for her vote on the Roadless
Bill.
Also this spring, freshman state representative Sandra Pihos (R-42) was visited
by RPG members Christy Greenblatt and Linda Sullivan. The team thanked her
for cosponsoring Wetlands Bill HB-422. They also expressed their appreciation
to Pihos for being one of the few representatives to vote against the bills
that will allow ATV trails in Illinois' state forests. The Sierra Club endorsed
Pihos in her run for representative. Sullivan said and is already seeing
good results.
In mid July, an RPG lobbyist team (Carol Knudson, Frank Orto and Linda Sullivan)
met with State Sen. Dan Cronin, (R-District 21) at his district office in
Lombard. Cronin is RPG members’ state senator; DuPage County comprises about
half of his district.
Thanks were exchanged. The RPG team thanked Cronin for his work on the Wetlands
Bill. Cronin thanked the Illinois team for its support in last March’s primary
battle against Tom Walsh.
"Dan said he thought our endorsement helped bring out independent voters
on the Republican ballot," said Orto "and that made a difference in the election
results.” He said he noticed “a bump” in turnout in certain areas of the
district which he tied to the Sierra Club endorsement."
The Sierra Club has endorsed Cronin in four bids for the state senate, dating
back to 1992.
And in late July, another RPG team (Carol Knudsen, Frank Orto and Joe Pokorny)
met with State Rep. Bob Biggins, R-District 41, at his home office in Elmhurst.
Said Orto: "Biggins said he would be willing to work with the Sierra Club
in researching how other states handle e-waste (discarded cell phones, VCRs,
PCs, etc.). And if a good and appropriate remedy was found, he would consider
sponsoring a bill for Illinois."
Sierrans who would like to get involved in the e-waste issue should call
Jack Darin, Illinois Chapter director, at (312) 251-1680.