 posted 11-21-2002 05:56 AM    
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002
American Land Rights Association - Land Rights Network
PO Box 400 - Battle Ground WA 98604
Phone: 360-687-3087 - Fax: 360-687-2973
Email: alra@landrights.org - http://www.landrights.org
Legislative Office: 508 First St SE - Washington DC 20003
Phone: 202-210-2357 - Fax: 202-543-7126 - Email: landrightsnet@aol.com
GRASSROOTS VICTORY !!!!!!!!
**** INCREDIBLE WIN FOR GRASSROOTS !!!! **** DARK-OF-NITE ENDANGERED SPECIES LAND GRAB EXPOSED & DEFEATED ! Senate Bill #990, which was a massive expansion of the Endangered Species
Act combined with hundreds of millions in new land acquisition, was exposed
to the light of day for the first time this week. And thousands of grassroots activists across the country said NO WAY! And the United States Senate heard you LOUD AND CLEAR!!!!!!!! S. 990 could not stand up to public scrutiny this week and was NOT brought
up for a vote in the Senate. The Senate just concluded its session for the
year, and S.990 is right where it belongs, in the dustbin!!! Sometimes, democracy works - YOU MADE THE DIFFERENCE!!!! The Endangered Species Act certainly needs changes. But there should be
input from the public, debate and discussion should occur in the light of
day, and there should be a record of who is for and against various
proposals. NONE of that occurred with S.990. This was a dark-of-nite land grab
promoted in the back rooms of Washington, DC by powerful environmental
organizations seeking to: 1) greatly expand their favorite law, the Endangered Species Act, 2) convert more lands from private property to government ownership, and 3) line their pockets with more, more and more grant money from taxpayers. S. 990 and other ideas to change the Endangered Species Act may be
considered in Congress next year. But it should be done out in the open. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR calls, YOUR faxes, YOUR emails made the
difference in demanding consideration for private property rights, multiple
use of federal lands, and OPEN GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take a look at the legislative history of S.990: ***S. 990 was first approved by the United States Senate just before
Christmas in 2001. It was after the last roll call vote of the year, nearly
MIDNIGHT, with no debate, and voted through by "unanimous consent" - when
only three Senators were present, everyone else having gone home to their
home states! ***S. 990 then languished in the House of Representatives Resources
Committee for ELEVEN MONTHS. Property rights activists, having been
caught unprepared by the Senate's sneak action, wanted an open discussion
about the Endangered Species Act in the light of day. But there were NO
hearings, NO debate, NO votes, NO action on the bill for eleven
months. ***Then, late in November 2002, Resources Committee Chairman James V. Hansen
of Utah, who is retiring from Congress, got into "Legacy Mode." He decided
to create a legacy for himself at taxpayer expense. He stuffed S.990 with
pork projects for Utah. These included the James V. Hansen Shoshone Trail,
which cost $2 million, and construction of a visitor center at the Bear
River Bird Refuge for $11 million, which upon completion would be named
after - you guessed it - James V. Hansen! ***In the wee hours of Friday morning, November 15, 2002, the second sneak
attack was launched. Hansen brought S.990 to the House floor and gained
approval by "unanimous consent" - after nearly every congressman had gone
home, at 2:35am! HOWEVER - because it was changed in the House, the revised version of S.990
now had to be given final approval in the Senate. Property rights activists had been burned twice, and would not be caught
again! ******** GRASSROOTS UPRISING !!!!!!!! ******** The "Big Green" enviro machine had only three days to get S.990 through the
Senate, which was already packed with a full agenda of other legislation.
They could not risk an open debate, which would expose S.990's flaws. They
would need one more dark-of-nite "unanimous consent" sneak attack in order
to slide S.990 through. But it was not to be. Property owners large and small, cabin owners, inholders, farmers, foresters,
ranchers, miners, four-wheelers, anyone who wants to make reasonable use of
their private property, or who makes recreational or commercial use of federal
lands, rose up and spoke out! For the past three days, Senate offices were swamped with calls, faxes and
emails DEMANDING open discussion of changes to the Endangered Species
Act! Many Senators listened to their constituents and placed a "hold" on S.990.
A "hold" places a temporary delay on legislation. With only three days in
session, Monday through Wednesday, November 18 to 20, it would be enough to
stop the Endangered Species Land Grab. The Big Green enviro's point man on S.990 is leftwing Senator Harry Reid of
Nevada. Reid worked desperately to convince Senators to remove their
"holds" and allow S.990 to slip through without a vote or debate. But with
the grassroots tide rising and the light of day shining on S.990, there was
no way. Sometimes, democracy works. ACTION ITEM - Pat yourself on the back. YOU DID IT!
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