THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503290005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Thank you for your recent article and editorial regarding the legislation to establish the Advisory Committee on how to spend proceeds from the ``Friends of the Chesapeake'' license plate. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation joins with those who support the passage of this legislation, and we urge Governor Allen to sign the legislation into law. We believe that in doing so, the governor and the legislature will have reaffirmed the public's trust in a small but important way.
Certainly, we are all aware of the many problems of the Chesapeake Bay and are encouraged by the progress that is beginning to be evident. The funds generated from the license plate will in no way be sufficient to cover all of the restoration and educational needs. However, they are an important means for individual citizens to show their support for the clean-up effort. Many of these citizens have become disillusioned to find that while nearly $400,000 dollars exists in the license-plate fund, none of the money has been spent. Nor has the advisory committee (promised in a DMV brochure) been established.
The 1995 legislature corrected both of these problems by passing legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Frederick Quayle and Democratic Del. Ken Plum to establish an advisory committee for recommending future expenditures. This is an important step. We applaud all Virginia legislators who supported the measure and hope that Governor Allen will sign the legislation into law.
JOSEPH H. MAROON
Virginia executive director
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Richmond, March 22, 1995 by CNB