The Open Space Bond Bill

One of my favorite scenes from the West Wing is when president Bartlet (played brilliantly by Martin Sheen) is running for reelection and is debating his Republican opponent, a conservative, and not too bright Governor (sound familiar?). During a response to a question about taxes and government spending, the republican rails against, of course, big government. President Bartlet, during his rebuttal, rattled off the impressive list of government spending and programs that help the republicans home state of Florida (it's a lot of money). President Bartlet looks at Governor Ritchie and says, "I have just one question...Can we have it back, please?"

Regardless of your views on what the proper role of government is, or how "the taxpayer's money" should be spent, there is no arguing that government spending, when its done well, can do a lot of good. Arguably, that spending is best done at the state and local level, where government can be most effective and democratically accountable. Here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, much of our considerable spending on protecting and conserving the environment is tied to the Environmental Bond Bill (H4561). Issued every 5 years, the bond bill authorizes the funding for a host of environmental capital spending above the day to day operational spending by state agencies, much of it critically important to us here in the city of Lawrence.

The rebuilding and expansion of the Wall Experimental Station on Shattuck St. is dependent on funding from the current bond bill. The Urban Self Help program has provided nearly $2 million since 2005, those funds helped the city and local non-profits leverage over $3 million from other non-state funding sources to help Lawrence construct 2 new parks along the Spicket River and refurbish another existing park. The design and planning of the Spicket river Greenway was funded by the state Riverways Program. The Gencorp/Gateway brownfields project, the first brownfields revitalization in the U.S., would not have been possible without state funding. Even our local farmers market benefits from state Bond Bill funds. Brox Farm in Dracut, was purchased with help from the state APR Program.

With a third new park planned for the former Covanta Incinerator site on the Spicket River, planned renovations to the Haden Schofield Playstead "in the pipeline" as well as the planned for river walk on the Merrimack River a host of improvements to existing parks and playgrounds throughout the city, the importance of bond bill funds for the Urban Self Help program is obvious.

Statewide, over the next 5 years, the Bond Bill will fund recreation and parks ($630 million), land conservation ($171 million), agriculture and forestry protection ($102 million), wildlife and fisheries programs ($119 million), coastal and marine resource protection ($102 million), water quality and drinking water supply ($183 million), and pollution reduction and clean up($50 million). Over $1.6 Billion dollars of investment critical to the entire commonwealth, especially here in Lawrence.

Passage of the Environmental Bond Bill is a major focus of the environmental community and of many cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. I will join many members of conservation commissions at a rally to support the bond bill tomorrow at the State House in Boston. Conservation Commissioners, environmental activists, local government officials and non-profits will be lobbying our representatives and state senators to support passage of the bill. If you agree that this spending is important and beneficial, please call your state senator and representative, express your support for the bond bill (H4561) and ask them to vote in favor of it's passage.