Liberty Matters News Service
1/25/99
Billion Dollar Land Grab
In his rebuttal message to the president’s State of the Union address, Rep. Steve Largent (R-OK) asked the question: "What does the GOP stand for?" Because he was such a newcomer to politics, he honestly didn’t know that it stood for "Grand Old Party." Answering his own question, he went on to say: "We (the Republican Party) stand for free enterprise, limited government and liberty." If that is true, then why are his colleagues in both houses introducing legislation that will literally destroy freedom in this country? Last week, five Republican and five Democratic Senators introduced S. 25, the ‘Billion Dollar Trust Fund’ bill for land acquisition. The president and the vice president announced their own plans called the "Lands Legacy Initiative" and the "Livability Initiative," essentially doing the same thing by funneling $1 billion a year into each program for land acquisition. The money would come from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease revenues that in the past have gone into the federal Treasury to help reduce this country’s $5 Trillion federal deficit. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) has publicly stated he will file his bill February 2nd and send it directly to the full committee, which he chairs.
Property Rights Opposition
The leaders behind these bills seem dead set to pass them, even in the face of tremendous grassroots’ opposition. Congressman Young has tried to downplay the opposition by commenting that only "a few private property rights groups" are opposed. Word from inside the Hill late Friday confirmed however, that pressure was being felt and many in Congress are taking a second look at Young’s bill thankfully because the grassroots’ voice and common sense message is beginning to resonate louder and louder.
Money Solves Everything
In the past, Congress has not had the courage to reform any environmental laws, nor have they been able to obtain any significant property rights protections. It appears as though the Republican leadership has given up on protecting liberty in this country and have decided the best way to solve their political dilemma is to throw money at it – a typical Washington solution. They clearly are taking the easy way out by just deciding to create an entitlement program and placing $1 Billion a year into an acquisition plan. After all, the funds aren’t coming from ‘taxpayer dollars’,they are coming from those bad old boys in the oil and gas industry. Of the approximate 2.3 billion acres of land in America, almost 40 percent is already in government possession according to a 1994 survey. When you break it down, it falls into the following categories: Federal: 28.8%, State/Local: 8.6%, Native American: 2%, Leaving only 60.3% in Private Ownership. How much more do they need?
Greed Over Principle (GOP)
This federal program will create such a flow of money into federal agencies, states and non-governmental land trusts that in no time more land will be under government control and less in the hands of the People. Maybe GOP really stands for "Greed Over Principle" because this is nothing more than a pork barrel program. It is time that those we elected to represent our views on Liberty listen to the real grassroots in this country. This is not a problem you solve by throwing money at it. Congress needs to get down to the real work of reforming government and strengthening the foundation of this nation by protecting private property, not purchasing it and transferring it into the very hands that will eventually destroy it.
Call on Leadership
They are feeling the pressure, but the leadership needs to hear from you immediately to stop Young from introducing his bill February 2nd. Call the new Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert; Dick Armey, Majority Leader; Tom Delay, Majority Whip and Don Young Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. Tell them we do not need more federal ownership of our land, we need private ownership and property protections. Don’t let this one slide by. It is too important to this nation and to our liberty.
Dennis Hastert – 202-225-2976
Tom DeLay – 202-225-5951
Richard Armey – 202-225-7772
Don Young – 202-225-5765
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