January 26, 1998--Volume 2 Number 1

Last year was a banner year for Liberty Matters. We launched our News Service one year ago this month, created the Liberty Matters Journal, began our weekly television program on NET (now America’s Voice) and developed one of the most widely used web sites for the property rights movement in the country. Last December alone we had over 30,000 hits on our site. This year, with your help, we are working to expand into new audiences, make our systems even easier to use, and provide even more aggressive strategies on issues affecting our liberty. We thank all of you for your support, hard work and dedication - You are the true heroes and the reason Liberty Matters!

The American Heritage Rivers Initiative has demonstrated the imperial intentions of the Clinton Administration. After citizens nationwide voiced their protest against AHRI, Katie McGinty, Chairman of CEQ, announced communities could opt out of the federal program. Hundreds of communities through their county commissioners, water boards and town governments voted not to be included, but then Ms. McGinty made another change in policy. Last week a letter was circulated to select congressional offices stating that comments or opt-out resolutions would be accepted only from a Congressman and received by Friday January 23 to be valid. Isn’t it interesting that one individual or organization can opt you in, but it takes an Act of Congress to get you out? The 10 designations are expected to be announced in mid February. Find out if your community falls into the watershed of one of these rivers. If so, you will need every elected official on your side. In the interim, keep the pressure on Congress to pass H. R. 1842 which cuts funding for the program and support Mountain States Legal Foundation’s lawsuit against the Initiative.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, VP Al Gore announced last October 18, that he was launching a set of Clean Water Initiatives to be administered by the Secretaries of USDA and EPA - sound familiar? The Initiative, very similar to the American Heritage Rivers Initiative, bypasses congressional authority, expands the regulatory power of multiple federal agencies, eliminates jurisdictional boundaries, limits local input, and ignores property rights – all disguised as an effort to promote water quality protection on a watershed basis. Al Gore directed the Secretaries to create a comprehensive action plan within 120 days that will add 100,000 acres of wetlands by the year 2005, create 2 million miles of buffer strips "protecting" waters from agricultural runoff by year 2002, and implements a system to regulate nitrogen and phosphorous runoff by year 2000 that will all but eliminate fertilizer use and the raising of domestic livestock. This Initiative, like AHRI, is simply another way for the Administration to gain federal control of our natural resources and property rights. Contact your Congressman immediately and make sure they oppose this Initiative in writing. Faxback Doc. 220 (4p)

It has been reported that Senator Kempthorne is working hard to gain the support needed to bring S. 1180, his Endangered Species Act reauthorization bill to the floor as soon as possible. Unfortunately, many major agricultural trade associations are supporting the measure claiming S. 1180 offers some favorable changes to the ESA. However, compensation, one of the most important provisions for landowners, has been specifically withheld by Kempthorne to gain approval from environmentalists. Attempts are being made to amend the bill on the floor, but don’t count on anything favorable being added in the Senate. Contact your Senators and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott to let them know of your disapproval of this bill and their lack of leadership for property owners.

Faxback Docs. (S1180) 178 (27p) Briefing paper 192

Trent Lott 202-224-3135 fax 202-224-2262

E-Mail senatorlott@lott.senate.gov