The Connecticut Fund for the Environment writes:

“Since 1993, Connecticut citizens have supported Long Island Sound by purchasing ‘Preserve the Sound’ license plates, adding up to $5 million for education and conservation programs. Until today.  This morning, the state swept the balance of the Long Island Sound Fund – about $300,000 – into the General Fund.

Read related news here including Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal’s remarks on the case.

Read more to see what easy steps you can take right now that might help to right this wrong :::::

There is still time to correct this injustice. The legislature can restore the LIS Fund when they finish working on the budget implementer bills this week – but they need to hear this message now:

It is a breach of law and trust to sweep these funds into the General Fund. Citizens were promised under state law that when they voluntarily paid extra for a LIS license plate, or made voluntary donations through their People’s Bank credit card, that the funds would be used to restore the Sound.

It is wrong to promise people that their donations will be used for one purpose, and then grab that money as a general purpose tax.

During your final budget work this week, please be a Sound hero and assure that the existing $300,000 that was voluntarily donated remains in the Long Island Sound Fund, so that DEP can continue to use this citizen support to restore our Sound.”

The Fund is asking its members to take a moment to call some of the following to ask them to rededicate the funding CT citizens voluntarily donated to restore the Sound.

Don Williams, President Pro Tem of the Senate: 800-842-1420
Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader: 800-842-1420
Chris Donovan, Speaker of the House: 800-842-8267
Denise Merrill, House Majority Leader: 800-842-8267
Richard Roy, House Environment Co-Chair: 800-842-8267
Ed Meyer, Senate Environment Co-Chair: 800-842-1420
Mary Muchinsky, Asst. Sen. Maj. Leader & Environment: 800-842-1420
Robert Genuario, OPM Secretary: 860-418-6500

Then please call your own legislators — you can find them on the CGA website or at votesmart.org. This is especially important if you live on the shoreline.