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ISSUE NO. 5-2016 / MARCH 22, 2016
FINAL CALL TO URGE GOVERNOR PENCE TO VETO THREE HARMFUL BILLS
Veto SB 109 - Protect Indiana's Wild Deer
SB 109 -- the canned hunting bill -- will legalize and expand the practice of shooting captive-raised deer and other animals in fenced enclosures. Captive deer herds are suspected in the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to wild deer, and wild deer and elk have been infected with CWD in 21 states.
Herds of captive deer have been destroyed due to CWD outbreaks in nearby Wisconsin and Ohio, and deer from affected herds have escaped through damaged fences.
Ethical hunters and conservation organizations condemn canned hunting as violating the well-established American principle of fair chase.
Take Action Now:Ask Gov. Pence to protect our wild deer and veto SB 109!
Veto HB 1053 - Plastic Bags Don't Need Protection
Despite the oft-cited love that our lawmakers claim to have for "home rule," special interests too often seem to trump home rule.
HB 1053, which has passed out of the state legislature and is awaiting Governor Pence's signature, will make it illegal for local governments -- cities, towns and counties -- to ban or tax the use of plastic bags.
Plastic bags not only litter our land and waters, they are often ingested by wildlife and make their way into the ocean. In fact,
a study conducted last year shows that there are eight million tons of plastic dumped into the oceans every year -- the equivalent of five grocery bags per every foot of coastline around the globe.
At a time when all Hoosiers should be calling for more environmental protection, it is irresponsible of our state lawmakers to pass a law that protects plastic bags rather than people, wildlife, and our waterways.
Veto HB 1386 - The Indiana Dunes State Park is not the Place for a Banquet Hall and Bar
Tell Governor Pence to veto
HB 1386, legislation that will enable a private developer to get the alcohol license needed to turn the historic Indiana Dunes State Park Pavilion into a massive banquet hall and bar.
As Carl Sandburg once said, "The Dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona. They constitute a signature of time and eternity." Sandburg's sentiment was shared by many others who fought to protect this ecological masterpiece
once before.
It is time for us to fight again!
Take Action Now:Email or call Governor Pence TODAY and urge him to veto HB 1386!
