Liberty Matters News Service

©1997 by Liberty Matters.

March 10, 1997 "Information is the Currency of Democracy" Volume I, Issue 5

Nature Conservancy -Tax Status in Jeopardy

A special tax break enacted nearly 30 years ago for The Nature Conservancy of Texas, a private environmental organization, was declared unconstitutional by Texas Attorney General Dan Morales February 28. TNC owns about 54,000 acres in Texas alone. After the Texas Legislature attempted to take TNC’s special exemption away two years ago, TNC started making payments in lieu of taxes to some counties In his recent opinion, Morales left it up to the individual county tax assessors to determine if they will require payment of all back taxes. Other state’s tax codes might also have a similar provision which can be challenged as a "special law" and perhaps be found unconstitutional. If this is the case, it could force The Nature Conservancy to pay the same property taxes as other landowners. For a copy of the AG decision order Faxback Doc 69

Hearing on HR 752 Scheduled This Week

HR 752, the "Citizens Fair Hearing Act of 1996," reintroduced by Congressman Helen Chenoweth from Idaho, will be heard before the House Resource Committee Wednesday, March 12. The bill amends the Endangered Species Act (ESA) allowing those individuals to bring a cause of action who suffer injury or economic loss due to the application of the rules and regulations under the Act. The bill would overturn the decision of Bennet v. Plenert which said plants and animals have access to the courts and people do not. The court ruled that species and environmental organizations have standing to sue the federal government, but not the person whose land is directly affected. Faxback Doc 63

BLM Buys Guns

Although facing stringent opposition to their proposed law enforcement rules, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recently ordered 325 new semi-automatic handguns for their agents. A BLM spokesman claimed the handgun order was "purely coincidental." The proposed regulations would allow agents to arrest, fine, search and seize property without due process giving them what many consider unauthorized police powers. The existing statutes clearly state the BLM must work with local police authority. Idaho’s Owyhee County Sheriff, Gary Aman, stated in the Washington Times, "if any BLM official attempts to enforce any regulation or law that is currently covered by state statute or county ordinance, I will look upon that as ‘impersonating a police officer’ and will act accordingly." Several Congressmen requested Secretary Babbitt to extend the comment period for the new rules, but as of Friday, March 7, that had not occurred. Congress will be holding hearings on these new regulations Tuesday, March 18th in Washington, DC. Faxback Doc 75, 76, 64

Amendment for Environment called "Time Bomb"

In a review of the proposed constitutional amendment for the environment, Pacific Legal Foundation’s Jim Burling states, "a time bomb" waiting to go off.. "If a future Supreme Court decides that this amendment gives it the power, the Court could regulate virtually every facet of human activity by judicial fiat, resulting in a regime of the most undemocratic decision making this Nation has ever seen." Faxback Doc 74

Sovereignty International Holds Conference on UN influence over American Policy

A conference is scheduled to be held on March 14-16 in Arlington, VA, to address the UN’s increasing influence over U.S. policy through UN initiated treaties, legally binding protocols, and policy documents that are driving international involvement in national, state and local matters. We strongly recommend that you contact your representatives in Washington and urge them or a staff person to attend this conference. For more information call Sovereignty International Inc. at 207-945-9878. For a copy of the conference agenda order Faxback Doc 77