THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602030010
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
The Virginia Conservation Network has done an injustice to the commonwealth, local governments and Virginians with its statement criticizing the amount taxpayers spend on natural resources. The network's statement is misleading and denigrates the contribution that all levels of government and Virginia's citizens make to the environment. Once again, the focus is on process, not results.
The message that every Virginian should focus on is that our environment continues to improve. Virginians are successfully managing natural resources to enhance the quality of our environment and to conserve it for future generations. All the commonwealth's citizens can take credit for these accomplishments, and take pride in them.
As for dollars: Let's be specific. Fifty-million dollars have been taken from the taxpayers to pay for these programs. Furthermore, these same taxpayers are contributing $150 million more, through user and permit fees and their federal tax dollars.
Every special-interest group is demanding more of the taxpayers' money. There seems to be no recognition that taxpayers can't pay for everything these special interests want.
Virginia's citizens, individually and through organizations, businesses and other entities, annually expend their hard-earned dollars, time and energy on their own efforts to improve our natural resources, as well as with their tax dollars.
For the Virginia Conservation Network to overlook these much-broader efforts is to denigrate the true contribution made by the commonwealth and all its citizens, and is to mislead the public.
BECKY NORTON DUNLOP
Secretary of natural resources
Commonwealth of Virginia
Richmond, Jan. 16, 1996 by CNB