With the state’s announcement of a budget surplus of $2 billion, the usual suspect are promoting the usual suggestions of what to do with it. Fortunately for the environment, Jon from Loon Commons makes the case very well.

The legislature’s commitment to protecting our environment, as indicated by their prioritizing environmental and conservation spending in their budget choices, has waxed and waned over the last 30 years. On the whole, it has averaged around 1.7% of total state spending in a given year. Before the latest rounds of budget cuts, which began in 2000, it climbed as high as 2.25%. However, it then plummeted, with a slight rebound this past session, putting it to 1.17%.

We’ve been living under four long years of policies based on protecting business first, and environment second. The legislature must stand up if it hopes to prevent four more years polluter protection, unharnessed development, weakened oversight, and depleting resources. Restoring funding to pre-2000 levels would be a start.