State Rep. Rebekah Warren shares Legislative Conservationist of the Year award
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs honored state Rep. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, and three of her Lansing colleagues this past weekend with the Legislative Conservationist of the Year award.
Rebekah Warren
The Clubs, which include tens of thousands of sportsmen and women across the state, celebrated passage of the Michigan Parks Passport program with the awards on Saturday in Big Rapids.
The group said this marks the first time the award has been given to a bicameral, bipartisan team for outstanding commitment to Michigan’s natural resources. Warren also is only the second woman in the Clubs’ history to be honored with the award.
Warren chairs the House’s committee on Great Lakes and the Environment, which developed a package of bills in tandem with the Senate Natural Resources Committee that was recognized by the Clubs. The legislation lowers the fee for an annual parks pass by 60 percent to $10 and tasks the secretary of state with marketing it alongside annual vehicle registrations.
The expectation is that a wider range of Michigan drivers will purchase the pass, ensuring more users at the parks and more stable funding for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
Warren shares the award with her Republican vice-chair Arlan Meekhoff and Sens. Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck, and Ray Basham, D-Taylor, who lead the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
“Our state parks are true jewels,” Warren said. “It is vital that Michigan invest in these resources to ensure they are properly maintained and cared for. Together we were able to develop an innovative solution to the parks funding challenge that is reliable, long-term and supported on both sides of the aisle.”
Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the bills into law on March 31 and the Parks Passport program goes into effect on Oct. 1.
Click here to read Sunday's Detroit Free Press story, which discusses the program and the need for $341 million in repairs to state parks.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
InsideTheHall
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 3:49 p.m.
Perhaps Ms. Warren should have spent her time "conserving" jobs in Michigan instead OF conrtibuting to Granholm's 8 year mess. Vote out all incumbents in 2010!
BigMike
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.
Ms. Armentrout, MUCC is far more than a group of hunters. I've been a member of MUCC on and off for decades. In 1974, they sponsored a youth outdoors camp that was inexpensive enough for me to attend when my family didn't have much money. I've volunteered at events designed to educate children on outdoor activities. They've conducted liasons between outdoors-people and the Michigan government for years, and have done a lot to make sure that natural lands could remain natural. The folks I know at MUCC are some of the most practical environmentalists I've met. Let's hope that the new parks passport generates lots of new revenue for the park system, and that the good folks in Lansing use the funds wisely!
Vivienne Armentrout
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.
Am I correct that MUCC is primarily a hunters' group? I'm aware that hunters have been an important force for conservation. They work to maintain open space, wetlands, and wildlife habitats. But their interests are not always congruent with all environmentalists. I hope that the reduction in the annual pass does not lead to a drop in revenue just when the DNR really needs it.