Weekly reports
A very protracted, and difficult three months of legislative activity drew to a close last Wednesday morning as lawmakers closed the book on a 2012 Regular Session, a Special Session, and a one-day 2nd Special Session.

It will go down as a set of Sessions where a minority (Senate Republicans) gained the help of three moderate Democrats to became an in-effect majority, where “reforms before revenue” paralyzed a budget process, and where lawmakers (with the one-day Second Special) technically held four Sessions in the span of five months!

For us at WRPA, despite a few disappointments, it ranks as a fairly positive 2012.  On the one hand, we saw lawmakers shift funding from a couple of Capital Budget accounts that are designed to address recreation and open space, and legislators did not insert a local parks grant program into the final Capital Budget and bond bills.  On the other hand, the final “Jobs Package” includes a very good blend of investments for parks and recreation and numerous projects for our members; the Legislature passed a bill that corrects some of the PR problems with the Discover Pass; State Parks received some funding help; and the Safe Routes to Schools program received three years of additional funding.  See final report for more.. 

Final report on regular/special sessions:

• Memo with specific Operating and Capital Budgets impact information for WRPA and for local governments
• PDF Operating Budget Summary
• PDF listing – 4-10-12 of project lists and funded categories in the Capital Budget;
• Excel spreadsheet listing of Capital Budget programs/funds/etc. that was distributed to Members.

Special Sesion - Week 4 report
Special Session - Week 3 report
Special Session - Week 2 report
Special Session - Week 1 report / AWC letter

Week 8 - report
Week 7 - report
Week 6 - report
Week 5 -report
Week 4 - report 
Week 3 - report
Week 2 -report
Week 1 - report