Liberty Matters News Service

JULY 12, 1999

"Information is the Currency of Freedom" Volume III, Issue 12

Bush Agrees With Gore

Gov. George W. Bush could have made one of his worst political blunders to date for his bid for president. At a recent news conference, he said he no longer believes that there's any question about whether the Earth is warming. "I believe there is global warming," Bush said. Just a few weeks earlier, he made the comment that the "science is still out," but apparently his political advisors changed his mind. "The last time I wasn't certain of the science," he said. "I've had some briefings recently and I'm becoming more convinced that the science proves there's global warming." Is it sound science he's listening to or political advice? If he does believe in global warming, does he also believe the United States should sign the Kyoto Agreement? Call the governor's office at 1-800-843-5789, and ask for his "sound science" that proves there is global warming. Let's see if it's science or just political correctness.

Faxback Doc. 420

Action Alert: HR 701 On the Move

Sources have indicated that Congressman Don Young is getting anxious to move his private land acquisition bill, HR 701 the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, out of the House Resource Committee. Action could take place as early as this week. HR 701 would move up to 1.5 billion dollars annually into federal coffers without congressional oversight to buy up private land. Call your Congressman and also House Leadership: Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) 202-225-0600; Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) 202-224-3135; and Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-TX) 202-225-0197. Ask them to oppose HR 701 and any effort to federalize private property in America.

FaxBack Doc. 399, 399A, 399B, 399C

ESA Listing Revision Bills Filed

Two pieces of legislation have been filed that will affect both the listing and de-listing of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) has introduced H.R. 2343, the Direct Review of Protected Species Act (D.R.O.P.). The bill would authorize the National Academy of Sciences to review and recommend deletions from the ESA list. Calvert said that in the last 25 years, over 1,154 species have been listed, but only 27 have been removed. A 2% recovery "leads me to believe that either the Fish &Wildlife Service is not keeping up with their mandate to review the list every five years … or their best efforts to conserve habitat at the expense of billions of dollars to taxpayers are failing. Either conclusion is 

unacceptable." In related legislation, both Wyoming Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi (R's) have introduce S. 1305 tightening the requirements for listing species under the ESA. "Right now," Thomas said, "it is basically a `postage stamp' petition — any person who wants to start a listing process may petition a species with little or no scientific support." Under their bill, the petition must be peer-reviewed to determine if sufficient biological information exists to support recovery of the species. Thomas said "Recovery and de-listing are, quite simply, the goals of the ESA." FaxBack Doc. 421, 422

Babbitt Wants to Keep Control Over Indian Accounts

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt testified in court that his agency should be allowed to maintain responsibility for 300,000 personal Indian Trust Accounts worth over $500 million. The testimony was given before U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth in response to a suit alleging mismanagement of the funds, brought by tribal members. This is the same case in which both Babbitt and former Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin were held in contempt for refusing to produce records requested by the Judge. Babbitt claimed the records could not be produced because the boxes were covered with excessive mouse droppings and were a threat to health. A decision is expected shortly.

FaxBack Doc. 423, 423A, 423B 423C

Wilderness Society Identifies Targets

The Wilderness Society has released it's 1999 report naming what it calls, "The 15 most endangered wildlands." According to the Society, threats include over-logging, oil and gas development, off-road vehicle use, too much commercial development and "lack of environmental protections" among others. What is most likely to be endangered here, however, is the private property owner. Take Cover! FaxBack Doc. 424