Contact Information for State Legislatures

To my regular readers: The following contact information is for you to make your voices heard now. You can do the easy way and simply email your Congressman. If you are really angry about something you see give them a call. The effect of a call is so much greater than that of an email. Elected officials want to hear from you so they know what their people want. If you do nothing at all they are rightly led to believe that it is not something they should spend time on. I ask that you print this out and put it on your refrigerator for easy access.

The rights Americans have with the 21st Ammendment should not be something put to waste. Do you know how many places there are where people would love to have the freedom to speak out against injustice.  Please recognize this as something you do for your family and your neighborhoods.

Alabama
Senate: State House, 11 S. Union St., Montgomery, AL 36130, 334-242-7800
House: State House, 11 S. Union St., Montgomery, AL 36130, 334-242-7600
Web site: http://www.legislature.state.al.us

Alaska
Senate: State Capitol, Juneau, AK 99801-1182, 1-800-478-4648
House: State Capitol, Juneau, AK 99801-1182, 1-800-478-4648
Web site: http://www.legis.state.ak.us

Arizona
Senate: Capitol Complex, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, 602-542-3559
House: Capitol Complex, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, 602-542-4221
Web site: http://www.azleg.state.az.us

Arkansas
Senate: 320 State Capitol Bldg., Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-2902
House: 320 State Capitol Bldg., Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-6211
Web site: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us

California
Senate: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-445-4311
Assembly: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916-445-2323
Web site: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov

Colorado
Senate: State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80203, 303-866-2316
House: State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80203, 303-866-2904
Web site: http://www.colorado.gov

Connecticut
Senate: Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, 860-240-0500
House: Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, 860-240-0400
Web site: http://www.cga.ct.gov

Delaware
Senate: Legislative Hall, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, DE 19903, 302-739-4129
House: Legislative Hall, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, DE 19903, 302-739-4087
Web site: http://www.legis.state.de.us

District of Columbia
Council of the District of Columbia, 441 Fourth St., NW, Ste. 716, Washington, DC 20001, 202-724-8000
Web site: http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us

Florida
Senate and House: The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-488-4371
Web site: http://www.leg.state.fl.us

Georgia
Senate: State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334, 404-656-5040
House: State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334, 404-656-5082
Web site: http://www.state.ga.us/legis

Hawaii
Senate: State Capitol, 415 Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-586-6720
House: State Capitol, 415 Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813, 808-587-0478
Web site: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov

Idaho
Senate and House: State Capitol Bldg., P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0081, 208-332-1000
Web site: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov

Illinois
Senate and House: State House, Springfield, IL 62706, 217-782-8223
Web site: http://www.state.il.us/state/legis

Indiana
Senate: State House, Indianapolis, IN 46204, 317-232-9400
House: State House, Indianapolis, IN 46204, 317-232-9600
Web site: http://www.in.gov

Iowa
Senate: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319, 515-281-3371
House: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319, 515-281-3221
Web site: http://www.legis.state.ia.us

Kansas
Senate and House: Statehouse, 300 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66612, 785-296-2149
Web site: http://www.kslegislature.org

Kentucky
Senate and House: State Capitol, Frankfort, KY 40601, 1-800-372-7181
Web site: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us

Louisiana
Senate: State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA 70804, 225-342-2040
House: State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA 70804, 225-342-6945
Web site: http://www.legis.state.la.us

Maine
Senate: 3 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0003, (207) 287-1540
House: 2 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333-0002, (207) 287-1400
Web site: janus.state.me.us/legis

Maryland
Senate and House: State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, 1-800-492-7122
Web site: mlis.state.md.us

Massachusetts
Senate: State House, Boston, MA 02133, 617-722-1455
House: State House, Boston, MA 02133, 617-722-2000
Web site: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/legis.htm

Michigan
Senate: State Capitol, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909, 517-373-2400
House: State Capitol, P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909, 517-373-0135
Web site: http://www.legislature.mi.gov

Minnesota
Senate: State Capitol, 75 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155,
651-296-0504
House: State Capitol, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155,
651-296-2146
Web site: http://www.leg.state.mn.us

Mississippi
Senate and House: New Capitol, P.O. Box 1018, Jackson, MS 39215-1018, 601-350-3770
Web site: http://www.ls.state.ms.us

Missouri
Senate: State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, 573-751-0940
House: State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, 573-751-3829
Web site: http://www.moga.state.mo.us

Montana
Senate and House: Capitol Station, Helena, MT 59620, 406-444-4801
Web site: http://www.leg.state.mt.us

Nebraska

Senate and House: State Capitol, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604, 402-471-2271
Web site: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us

Nevada
Senate: 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV 89710, 775-684-6522
Assembly: 401 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV 89710, 775-684-8533
Web site: http://www.leg.state.nv.us

New Hampshire
Senate: State House, Concord, NH 03301, 603-271-2111
House: State House, Concord, NH 03301, 603-271-3661
Web site: gencourt.state.nh.us

New Jersey
Senate and House: State House Annex, P.O. Box, 068, Trenton, NJ 08625-0068, 609-292-4840
Web site: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us

New Mexico
Senate: State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 505-986-4714
House: State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 505-986-4751
Web site: legis.state.nm.us/lcs

New York
Senate: Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247, 518-455-2800
Assembly: Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247, 518-455-4100
Web site: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us

North Carolina
Senate and House: State Legislative Building, Raleigh, NC 27603-2808,
919-733-7928
Web site: http://www.ncleg.net

North Dakota
Senate: State Capitol, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0360,
701-328-3373
House: State Capitol, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0360,
701-328-2916
Web site: http://www.state.nd.us/lr

Ohio
Senate: State House, Columbus, OH 43215, 614-466-4900
House: State House, Columbus, OH 43215, 614-466-3357
Web site: ohio.gov

Oklahoma
Senate: State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105,
405-524-0126
House: State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105,
405-521-2711
Web site: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us

Oregon
Senate and House: State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310, 503-986-1187
Web site: http://www.leg.state.or.us

Pennsylvania
Senate: Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, 717-787-5920
House: Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, 717-787-2372
Web site: http://www.legis.state.pa.us

Rhode Island
Senate and House: State House, Providence, RI 02903, 401-222-6655
Web site: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us

South Carolina
Senate: Gressette Bldg., P.O. Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, 803-212-6700
House: Blatt Bldg., PO Box 11867, Columbia, SC 29211, 803-734-2010
Web site: http://www.scstatehouse.net

South Dakota
Senate: Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57501-5070, 605-773-3821
House: Capitol Building, Pierre, SD 57501-5070, 605-773-3851
Web site: legis.state.sd.us

Tennessee
Senate: State Capitol, Nashville, TN 37243, 615-741-2730
House: State Capitol, Nashville, TN 37243, 615-741-2901
Web site: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us

Texas
Senate: State Capitol, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711, 512-463-0100
House: State Capitol, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711, 512-463-4630
Web site: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

Utah
Senate: State Capitol, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, 801-538-1035
House: State Capitol, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, 801-538-1029
Web site: http://www.le.state.ut.us

Vermont

Senate: State House, Montpelier, VT 05602, 802-828-2241
House: State House, Montpelier, VT 05602, 802-828-2228
Web site: http://www.leg.state.vt.us

Virginia
Senate: General Assembly Building, P.O. Box 396, Richmond, VA 23218, 804-698-7410
House: State Capitol, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218, 804-698-1500
Web site: legis.state.va.us

Washington
Senate: P.O. Box 40482, Olympia, WA 98504-0482, 360-786-7550
House: P.O. Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600, 360-786-7750
Web site: http://www.leg.wa.gov

West Virginia
Senate: State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305, 304-357-7800
House: State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305, 304-340-3200
Web site: http://www.legis.state.wv.us

Wisconsin
Senate: P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, 608-266-2517
House: P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708, 608-266-1501
Web site: http://www.legis.state.wi.us

Wyoming
Senate: State Capitol, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-7711
House: State Capitol, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-7852
Web site: legisweb.state.wy.us

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Hawaii protecting coral reefs with big fines

By AUDREY McAVOY
HONOLULU (AP) — Wrecking coral will cost you in Hawaii. A Maui tour company is paying the state nearly $400,000 for damaging more than 1,200 coral colonies when one of its boats sank at Molokini, a pristine reef and popular diving spot. Another tour operator faces penalties for wrecking coral when it illegally dropped an anchor on a Maui reef.

The state plans to sue the U.S. Navy to seek compensation for coral ruined when a guided missile cruiser the length of two football fields ran aground near Pearl Harbor in February.

The fines began issuing fines two years ago as part of its efforts to punish those who damage a resource critical to Hawaii’s fragile environment and tourism, the state’s No. 1 industry.

“People are going to have to be more careful out here, because it if keeps getting damaged, we’re going to lose it,” said Laura Thielen, chairwoman of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, which decides how much to fine. “We have to take some very strong action or else it’s going to be too late.”

Hawaii is home to 84 percent of all coral under U.S. jurisdiction. About 15 percent of U.S. coral is in state waters surrounding the main Hawaiian islands from Niihau to the Big Island. Another 69 percent is in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands _ a stretch of mostly uninhabited atolls President George W. Bush made a national marine monument in 2006.

Coral reefs provide vital habitats for fish, help protect shoreline areas during storms, and support a thriving snorkeling and scuba diving industry.

Experts say coral reefs in the marine monument are in good shape. But those near population the main Hawaiian island population centers are under pressure from sediment found in runoff, overfishing and invasive algae.

Careless ocean users, who can kill a 500-year-old coral in five minutes, are another danger.

“Each one may be considered fairly small. But when you add them together, then the impact gets to be even greater,” said University of Hawaii coral reef expert Richard Richmond.

Kuulei Rodgers, a Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology assistant researcher, said injured corals will have a harder time recovering from global warming and rising levels of carbon dioxide the oceans are absorbing amid growing greenhouse gas emissions.

“It’s the same as if when a disease hits people, it’s the weaker ones that will normally be the ones that suffer the high mortality,” Rodgers said.

The state imposed its first-ever fine for breaking coral in June 2007, when it ordered Lahaina-based tour operator Crystal Seahorse to pay $7,300 for illegally entering a natural area reserve and breaking 11 coral specimens there.

Hawaii had the legal authority to impose such fines before, but instead preferred to simply educate offenders about reefs and have them assist with the cost of restoration. It shifted course after realizing this wasn’t prompting people to take necessary precautions around coral.

Maui Snorkel Charters, which runs tours under the name Maui Dive Shop, is paying the largest fine assessed so far.

In 2006, its Kai Anela tour boat headed to Molokini with 15 snorkelers and a captain armed with just three days of training. No tourists were hurt when the ship sank after developing mechanical problems, but the company tripled the original coral damage area by bungling salvage attempts.

The state’s staff biologist estimates the area will take 80 years to recover.

Maui Snorkel Charters is paying $396,000 in a settlement, with part of the money up front and the rest in installments through 2011. The company apologized, and the Kai Anela is back in service.

The Navy is another target, for coral wrecked over a 6- to 10-acre area when the USS Port Royal ran aground. The Navy has already spent nearly $40 million on ship repairs and some $7 million restoring the reef, including dispatching scuba divers to help reattach more than 5,000 broken coral colonies.

Florida, which has 2 percent of U.S. coral _ the most of any state after Hawaii _ is also moving to shield the resource.

Under the newly passed Coral Reef Protection Act, approved by the Legislature this year, Florida may fine culprits up to $250,000 and sue offenders for unlimited compensatory damages. Until the law, which took effect July 1, Florida had to seek compensation through the courts.

The federal government has in the past fined offenders millions of dollars for coral wrecked in marine sanctuaries.

Tori Cullins, co-owner of Wild Side Specialty Tours in Waianae, supports fines.

“Unless you hit people in the pocketbook, I don’t think it’s going to matter much,” said Cullins, who operates marine mammal viewing tours.

Associated Press writer Brian Skoloff in West Palm Beach, Fla. contributed to this report.