Illinois Environmental Lobby Day

A group of about 75 people of faith, organized by my non-profit employer, met at 6:30 yesterday morning to ride two buses from Chicago to our state capital in Springfield to lobby our senators and representatives on three environmental bills as part of the day organized by the IL Environmental Council.

Most of us were novices at lobbying but got training during the three and a half hour bus ride on what the bills were, where to find our lawmakers, etc.  The biggest issue on the table is to get some regulations in place before companies move in and begin hydraulic fracturing - fracking - in Illinois.  Now there are none - no protections against water contamination, air pollution...it's a long list of issues.

It was a long day, and we were able to connect with some of our legislators - others remained elusive.

The democratic process is a strange and confusing thing.  I would participate again, but don't feel a calling towards lobbying!