Policy Overview

Coalition of Ohio Land Trusts (COLT) work to advance critical state and federal land conservation policy initiatives and legislation, such as property tax reform, and renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund, in partnership with other statewide groups such as Ohio League of Conservation Voters and Mainstream Green Coalition.

LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY REPORT

LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY UPDATE

APRIL 2013

FEDERAL                                                                                                                                                                                

FY2014 Budget:  President Obama released his proposed FY2014 budget on April 10.  The President’s budget of $3.77 trillion assumes that all of the sequester cuts, including those in FY13, will be repealed, to be superseded by a combination of tax entitlement program changes going forward, as well as $200 billion in further discretionary spending cuts that would begin in FY17.  The cuts would be taken equally from defense and non-defense spending.  The White House reports that its proposed savings would provide $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years. 

Conservation funding - The President’s request for the Department of Interior, environment and related agencies appropriations bill is $513 million above FY12 enacted level. The budget includes expansion of the initiative for river restoration and a refocus on Urban Parks and Recreation programs. It also includes a plan to establish a dedicate source of long term funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The proposed budget includes $300 million to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

The USDA Forest Service request is $4.8 billion, a decrease of $6 million from the FY13 Continuing Resolution level (without the sequester). 

Farm Bill Reauthorization:  There is an expectation that the House may move first on an effort to reauthorize the Farm Bill.  The Senate took the lead last year.  It has been reported that Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) will mark up a bill in the House Agriculture Committee in mid-May and that the legislation will resemble closely the bill voted out of Committee last year but not placed on the House floor for a vote.  The Senate delay appears to be due to negotiations around coupling best agricultural management practices with eligibility for crop insurance. 

Comings and Goings:

Sally Jewell was confirmed by the Senate as Secretary of Interior, succeeding Ken Salazar, who has stepped down.

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) announced that he will retire at the end of his term and not seek re-election in 2014. 

STATE OF OHIO

FY2014-2015 Operating Budget:  The House of Representatives passed its version of the budget bill, Sub. HB 59, on April 18.  .

Thanks to strong advocacy by a coalition of conservation and environmental groups and other stakeholders, funding for the Ohio Sea Grant/Stone Lab and Heidelberg Water Quality Laboratory were restored by the House.  The bill also includes $26 million in bonding for the Clean Ohio Fund conservation programs (Agricultural Easement Preservation, Conservation Green Space, and Trails).  Although the coalition requested a  total of $52 million in bonding, there is optimism that the Senate will add the remaining $26 million in their version of the budget.

Representative Tim Derickson championed the effort in the House with strong support by Representatives Dave Hall, Cheryl Grossman, and Denise Driehaus.   Their combined leadership was crucial to coalition advocacy efforts.

The House also added a provision that changes existing state law regarding revenues received from oil and gas drilling on state park lands.  Currently, all revenues are credited to the Parks Mineral Royalties Fund to be used solely for parks capital improvements.  The provision in the budget bill would direct 50 percent to the parks and the remaining 50 percent to a newly created Clean Ohio Distribution Fund.  

In other action the House removed all of the Governor’s proposed provisions on increasing regulatory and reporting oversight on the shale gas/oil industry.  

The Senate is expected to continue budget hearings through early May, consider amendments, and vote a bill out of Committee by May 28 with a floor vote scheduled tentatively on June 5.  Assuming that the Senate Bill will be different from the House’s version a conference committee will need to be convened to negotiate a final budget bill, which must be signed by the Governor by June 30. 

Economic Impact of Clean Ohio Fund:  The Trust for Public Land released a report on the economic benefits of the Clean Ohio Fund conservation programs The report summarizes and quantifies significant economic benefits to local communities in Ohio through Clean Ohio Fund conservation program investments (Conservation Open Space, Agricultural Easement Protection, and Trails).  Its findings report that $1 invested in land conservation returns $4 in natural goods and services to Ohio’s economy.

The report provides critical return on investment information regarding economic leverage, contributions, and job creation that is necessary to “making the case” with legislators and the Administration that the COF is a smart investment of state dollars.  The data and examples in the report serve as a critical tool in the Conservancy’s efforts in leading a statewide coalition to secure $52 million in bonding for the conservation programs in the budget bill. 

Comings and Goings:

Former Democratic Congressman and state legislator Charlie Wilson passed away on April 14 following complications from a stroke suffered earlier in the year. 

Andre Porter, Public Utilities Commission member, has been named Director, Ohio Department of Commerce, succeeding David Goodman, who recently became Director, Development Services Administration. 

Representative Matt Szollosi (D-46), assistant minority leader, has resigned to become executive director, Affiliated Construction Trades of Ohio Association.  Rep. Tracy Heard is rumored to be his likely successor.

Upcoming Event on Shale Gas – June 18-19 in Cleveland:

The National Academy of Engineering is holdings its 2013 Topical Meeting in Severance Hall in Cleveland, OH on June 18-19.  The title of the meeting is Shale Gas: Promises and Challenges. The meeting is free and open to the public but registration is required.  For additional information and to register go to:  www.naeshalegas.com

Federal Policy Links

Public Land Conservation Funding

The 2008 Farm Bill and recent appropriations cycles have provided dramatic funding increases for Farm Bill conservation programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other federal conservation programs. Now the America's Great Outdoors Initiative provides a promising opportunity to do even more, but cuts to Farm Bill conservation programs in the FY11 budget show that we must remain vigilant. 
To learn more, click to visit the Land Trust Alliance website. 

Become a Land Trust Advocate

Every year, the federal government makes key decisions on the tax incentives for land or conservation easements; on the rules that 501(c)(3) organizations must follow; on funding for a host of federal and state land protections; and about grant programs that can help you protect lands in your community.

Members of Congress and other public officials rely on their constituents for informed opinions on proposed legislation, policy issues and regulations. The Land Trust Alliance can tell them what the issues are, but only YOU can make them care! Advocates Alerts provide the information you need to make a difference with policymakers.
To learn more, click to visit the Land Trust Alliance website.