Liberty Matters Action Alert
9/27/00
CARA Deal Closer!
In the final days of the regular Session of the 106th Congress, the fate of CARA, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act has taken many turns. Now more than ever, your Senators need a clear message from you that we will not accept CARA or any CARA compromise.
Last night, a new deal was struck in the Conference Committee on the Interior Appropriation’s bill. Congressman Norman Dicks (D-WA) offered a “CARA Light” proposal which was modified into a new deal and was tentatively agreed to by the CARA proponents lead by Congressmen Don Young and George Miller, and Senators Frank Murkowski and Jeff Bingaman. However, it is being reported that they are still working on passing their CARA bill either as a separate measure or amendment to an appropriation’s bill.
The New CARA Deal
The new deal is a six-year funding authorization amended into the Interior Appropriation’s bill, beginning at $1.8 billion and increasing to $3 billion in the fifth year. Allocated to federal land acquisition is $450 million. State land acquisition is given $150 million in the first year increasing to $450 million by the fifth year. The remaining funds are split between the other CARA programs including coastal, wildlife management, refuge revenue sharing and PILT – Payment in Lieu of Taxes.
All parties are still negotiating. Last week, Republicans agreed to fund President Clinton’s Land’s Legacy Initiative to the tune of $920 million to acquire high priority tracts he claims are threatened by development. Clinton is also asking for an additional $429 million for his Land’s Legacy in a separate bill for a total of nearly $1.4 billion next year and that’s over and above what Congress is debating on CARA. What is clear is that the White House will not agree to anything as long as they believe the door is open to get more from the Republican lead Congress.
Any one of the CARA proposals floating around the Hill could be added to a Continuing Resolution, an Appropriation’s bill or an Omnibus Appropriation’s bill certain to come at the end of the Session. And the original CARA bill could still be pushed as a stand-alone bill at any hour. CARA will not be dead until the Session is closed and the Senate is considering holding a lame duck session after the elections instead of closing as planned on October 6th. Anything can happen from here. Our message must cut through all political deals.
Action to Take
Regardless of the politics, our message remains the same: No CARA! No Compromise! The government cannot have one more acre of private property in America. The grassroots has severely weakened what was once considered a done deal. But it is not over yet. The calls, letters and faxes you make today are critical to keeping this dangerous proposal from becoming law.
Call your Senators immediately to let them know you want them to oppose CARA and all CARA like proposals. Call your Senators at least once a day until the session closes for updates and to reiterate your message. There is no better opportunity to state your position clearly and often. No CARA! No Compromise!
Senate Switchboard 1-800-241-7109
Compromise Press Release, Faxback # 2184
Read Fred Kelly Grant's Fatal Flaws II, CARA Exposed (faxback #2183)
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