Governor Lepage and Maine's Environment

2016 Citizen Action Day onNRCM SPECIAL REPORTno Governor LePage and Maine’s Environment: A Dismal Record Governor Paul LePage has announced that he’s pursuing a “war” against Executive Director Lisa Pohlmann said, “Where does this stop? This tactic of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, but his real target is Maine’s creating enemy lists harkens back to something that Joseph McCarthy would Genvironment. For the past five years, the governor has supported the most have done in the 1950s, not a governor of the state of Maine in 2016.” anti-environment agenda of any governor in modern Maine history. He We have filed a request to the governor’s office for copies of all thinks Maine’s environment and economy are in conflict and that we need to documents mentioning NRCM. It is important to determine the full extent weaken Maine’s environmental protections to create jobs—a false, outdated to which the governor is using taxpayer funds to carry out his personal notion that no Maine governor has held in decades. vendetta against NRCM. Unlike the governor, NRCM and the overwhelming majority of Maine We have become the target of the governor’s rage because we have people understand that a clean and healthy environment is essential for played a pivotal role in blocking his efforts to weaken Maine’s environmental Maine’s economy, our health, and quality of life. Maine’s environment and laws. But his “little war” is not working. NRCM will not stop bringing citizens economy go hand-in-hand. together to fight for clean air and water, renewable We have produced this Special Report to Unlike the governor, NRCM and energy, wildlife habitat, conserved lands, and compare the work that NRCM is doing to protect the overwhelming majority of Maine sustainable communities—and the jobs and lives that Maine’s natural resources with the LePage depend on a healthy Maine environment. If anything, Administration’s record of undermining safeguards people understand that a clean and the governor’s attacks have strengthened our resolve. for our environment. The governor has attempted healthy environment is essential for The governor’s efforts to weaken environmental to weaken laws that bipartisan coalitions of Maine protections are out of step with the facts, and with lawmakers have carefully put into place over Maine’s economy, our health, and the views of Maine people. That’s why bipartisan the last 50 years. Maine people, organizations, quality of life. Maine’s environment majorities have consistently voted against his anti- businesses, and legislators have rallied to defeat environment agenda in the Maine House and Senate. the governor’s misguided proposals. He is angry and economy go hand-in-hand. Mainers and visitors to our state appreciate about his repeated defeats and has Maine’s clean rivers, lakes, and streams. They value our conserved turned his anger toward NRCM. lands for recreation and wildlife habitat. They support efforts to make our Governor LePage says he is communities more sustainable. They are glad that Maine lawmakers have carrying out a “little war” against NRCM. passed strong laws that remove toxic chemicals from consumer products We have never before seen such attacks and promote recycling. And they support clean, renewable energy sources POSTAGE - from a sitting governor. Over the past that reduce air pollution and the threat of climate change. NON-PROFIT U.S. A IP D ME PORTLAND, NO. 454 PERMIT few months, the governor has: These are our goals. This is what NRCM staff and our 16,000 members ► attacked NRCM by name more and supporters work for each and every day. Despite any claims he may than 80 times in nearly two dozen make, we have seen little evidence that Governor LePage shares these speeches, interviews, and written goals. But we know that Mainers everywhere do—those who reside in this communications; beautiful state and those who hold a piece of Maine in their hearts and ► displayed a “Wanted” poster at a town memories. NRCM supporters live in every corner of Maine, in 504 Maine hall meeting featuring a photo of an communities. We remain strong in the face of Governor LePage’s assault. NRCM staff member; NRCM is not going anywhere but forward. ► declared that NRCM is an “enemy” —NRCM Staff and Members of the Board of Directors and announced that the “Natural Resource [sic] Council of Maine has got to go”; and ► called NRCM “the anti-Christ of the state.” The governor also took the Nominate Your Hero! unprecedented step of directing his staff to look up the home addresses of NRCM members so that he could send them harassing letters. That was the last straw for us. On June 2, 2016, we held a news 2016 People's Choice Award conference to demand that the governor nominations are now open. stop using Maine taxpayer dollars to hunt down the addresses of people Deadline for nominations: August 5, 2016 3 Wade Street 04330-6317 Maine Augusta, CHECK YOUR LABEL! Please call NRCM with corrections address duplicate mailings!or who support NRCM, just because See Page 8 we disagree with his agenda. NRCM WEIGER WENDY Standing Up for What We Believe It is high time to set the record straight on who is working to protect Maine’s environment and who is attacking it. That is why we are devoting our annual legislative Report Card to the contrast between our work together with you as the Natural Resources Council of Maine JEFF WELLS BY ORONO BOG BOARDWALK and Governor LePage’s relentless efforts to roll back and undercut our CONSERVED LAND AND environmental laws. Now, more than ever, we need to HEALTHY FORESTS stand strong together. We do this work Every $1 invested in land conservation through LMF with you and because of you. NRCM is not simply the staff in our Augusta office. We are thousands of people returns $11 in goods and services to the Maine economy. across Maine and beyond who care deeply about the environment and the Maine is a special place, with a natural character that defines who we are as a people. economy of this state. We have worked together for generations to support We love our forests, parks, coasts, waterways, islands, mountains, farmlands, laws that find the right balance between protecting the waters, woods, and and wildlife. We have worked hard to protect Maine’s quality of place through the wildlife of Maine that we love, and the jobs that sustain our families and work of land trusts, lake associations, and state agencies. Many communities communities. have pursued local conservation efforts, and the people of Maine have strongly NRCM has always been viewed as balanced, smart, science-based, supported statewide conservation through the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) and powerful. That’s because for 57 years, NRCM staff and members program—one of Maine’s most successful and popular land conservation efforts. have worked together so effectively. No one can deny us our right to stand NRCM has proudly supported the LMF program since it was created in up for what we believe. No one can make us disappear. We are strong in 1987. As part of a broad-based coalition, we have worked to secure passage Augusta because you are strong in your resolve and engaged in action. of LMF bond measures each time they have been proposed in the Maine Please read this report carefully so that you understand the issues and Legislature, and we promoted their passage at the ballot box in 1987, 1999, can help counter the governor’s obsessive rant against us all, and so that 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2012. When Maine people have a chance to vote for we can continue to work together as strongly as ever. Thank you for your LMF funding, they do so by an overwhelming margin. This is because LMF has outpouring of support. We know you are with us. done such a wonderful job protecting special places in all 16 Maine counties. Land purchased with the help of LMF funds, along with required matching funds, provides guaranteed public access in perpetuity. This is extremely important because Maine has so little public land—one of the lowest percentages (about 6 percent) of any state in the nation. Lisa Pohlmann Maine’s public lands include state parks, Baxter State Park, Acadia National Executive Director Park, White Mountain National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, and national wildlife refuges, as well as 600,000 acres of Public Reserved Lands in more than 30 separate parcels across Maine. The Public Reserved Lands are enjoyed for their outstanding hiking, camping, birding, fishing, and hunting opportunities. They include places like the Bigelow Preserve, Kennebec Highlands, Tumbledown, and Cutler’s Bold Coast. For decades, Maine’s Public Reserved Lands have been considered some of the best managed forests in Maine—with healthy stands of mature trees. Benefits: Since 1987, LMF has protected more than 315,000 acres of working forestland, more than 1,200 miles of shorefront, land around dozens of lakes and ponds, scores of spectacular mountains, and hundreds of miles of trails throughout Maine for residents and visitors to enjoy. These conserved lands provide guaranteed public access to valued parts of Maine’s landscape, and afford myriad benefits, both measurable (economic benefits, jobs) and immeasurable (quality of life, treasured memories). In 2012, the Trust for Public Lands completed a study of the direct and indirect benefits of LMF titled Return on the Investment in Land for Maine’s Future. The report found that every $1 invested in land conservation through LMF returns $11 in goods and services to the Maine economy.

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