2012 Land Trust Lobby Day

On April 18, executive directors and board members of 43 land trusts from 23 states descended on Washington, D.C. for more than 136 meetings with key members of the agriculture, appropriations and tax-writing committees that decide the fate of billions of dollars for land conservation. The Alliance selected these groups for the inaugural Land Trust Lobby Day because of their relationships with key members of Congress.  We hope this first land trust lobby day will provide a model for similar events to cultivate new advocates with strong congressional relationships in years to come.

• Complete list and wrap-up of lobby day visits

Senator Max Baucus Speaks at Lobby Day

In remarks at the welcome dinner, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) reiterated his commitment to making the enhanced easement incentive permanent.

“I believe everything is an opportunity. When times are good there are opportunities. When times are bad there are opportunities…There’s an opportunity to make the tax incentive permanent, and there’s an opportunity for you while you’re here. Plant that seed.”

– Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT)

See if your Senators have co-sponsored Baucus' easement incentive bill S.339. If not, urge them to sign on today!

• View a photo gallery of the welcoming dinner and the full video of Baucus’ keynote address.
• See our Press Release about the event

Any Weekend Can Be Your Lobby Day

You don’t have to fly to Washington to meet your senators and representative! They spend much of the year -- including almost every weekend -- in their district offices meeting with constituents, engaging the local press, and being seen in their communities. There simply is no better way to get extended face time and make a lasting impression than with a site visit or another creative event when your Members of Congress are home in the district.

Please see our site visit guide for a list of upcoming recesses and use our lobby day materials to promote the issues that matter most to you.

2012 Land Trust Lobby Day Materials

• Conservation Tax Incentive Fact Sheet
• Farm Bill Fact Sheet
• Interior Appropriations Fact Sheet (LWCF, Forest Legacy & NAWCA)
• Briefing Packet for Participants
• For additional supporting materials, please visit the related sections of our policy webpage

Questions? Please contact policy@lta.org.

Lobby Day Photo Album

Meme Runyon of River Fields (KY), Mark Ackelson of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and Jonathan Birdsong of Bluewater Strategies were among the panelists at Lobby Day 2012's advocacy training.

Participants take in the advocacy training at Lobby Day 2012.

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) accepts a framed copy of the center spread from the Winter 2012 Saving Land Magazine, featuring a Montana Land Reliance property. Pictured left to right: Alliance Board Chair Michael Dowling, Montana Land Reliance Eastern Manager Kendall Van Dyk, Senator Baucus, and Alliance President Rand Wentworth.

Harris Sherman, Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources & Environment, speaks at the inaugural Land Trust Lobby Day.

Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) poses with Kansas land trusts. Pictured left to right: Mike Beam of Ranchland Trust of Kansas, Senator Moran, Ginny Moore of Kansas Land Trust and Rob Manes of The Nature Conservancy in Kansas.

Michigan land trusts thanking Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) for his leadership in creating and expanding the income tax deduction for conservation easements. Pictured left to right: William Gebo of Little Forks Conservancy, Bob Marshall of Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Brian Price of Leelanau Conservancy, Congressman Dingell, Glen Chown of Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and John Erb of Leelanau Conservancy.

Land trust leaders pose with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Pictured left to right: Phil Shephard of Great Land Trust, Tim Troll of Nushagak-Mulchatna Wood-Tikchik Land Trust, Senator Murkowski, and Sherry Huber, an Alliance board member representing Forest Society of Maine.

Judy Steckler of Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain meets with her congressman, Steven Palazzo (R-MS), who subsequently agreed to co-sponsor the Conservation Easement Incentive Act.

Did you get a photo with your congressperson? Please send it to policy@lta.org.