Hi Folks:<br><br>We are moving into the second half of the legislative session. The<br>Governor's capital budget recommendations include $5 million for the<br>River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (RERI), BUT his entire<br>
recommended budget <b>far exceeds</b> available statewide capital outlay<br>funding. The Governor and staff are now looking at which programs to<br>keep in the Governor's statewide capital outlay budget, and which<br>
programs to cut or eliminate. Programs that have broad public support<br>are less likely to be cut.<br><br>To help keep the RERI program <b>fully funded</b> at $5 million, we need to<br>overwhelm the Governor's website with e-mails from our membership and<br>
supporters indicating their strong support for full funding ($5 million)<br>of the River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative. Please send out the<br>following action alert to membership and supporters asking them to take<br>
the following steps:<br><br> E-mail the Governor's website at<br> <a href="http://www.governor.state.nm.us/email.php?mm=6&type=opinion" target="_blank">http://www.governor.state.nm.us/email.php?mm=6&type=opinion</a><br>
<<a href="http://www.governor.state.nm.us/email.php?mm=6&type=opinion" target="_blank">http://www.governor.state.nm.us/email.php?mm=6&type=opinion</a>><br><br> Select "water" as your subject. In the body of the e-mail, include a<br>
subject line titled: "Full funding for the River Ecosystem<br> Restoration Initiative." Tell the Governor that you strongly<br> support the protection and restoration of New Mexico's rivers and<br> urge him to request the Legislature to appropriate $5 million for<br>
the River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative.<br><font color="#888888"><br>--<br>William Schudlich<br>Santa Fe, NM</font>