Liberty Matters News Service 

11/12/99

Young Funds Path to Socialism

"Mark my words, we will all rue this day, when we decided to set the un-reversible process in place to remove massive tracts of land in this great country from production and the tax-rolls." Congressman Helen Chenoweth-Hage

In an unbelievable and outright contentious committee hearing, Don Young (R-AK), chairman of the House Resources Committee shouted: "Those who oppose this bill are going to get run over." H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) passed out of committee 37-12. One individual was quoted as saying: "Don Young and George Miller have just opened the door to total Socialism in this country."

The deal was struck between Don Young and George Miller (D-CA) not to accept any changes to the compromise bill. Members of the committee who wanted to offer amendments found a very inhospitable chairman who ran the hearing in a way that astonished even members of his own party. Only fifteen amendments were allowed during the four-hour hearing. Few were allowed a roll call vote. The most important property rights amendments that were defeated include:

¨ Mrs. Cubin (R-WY) – No net gain of federally owned lands – 14-24,

¨ Mr. Schaffer (R-CO) – To prohibit use of CARA funds for American Heritage Rivers – 20-24,

¨ Mr. Pombo (R-CA) – Greater protection for private property targeted for acquisition – 14-28,

¨ Mr. Hill (R-MT) & Mr. Calvert (R-CA)– No condemnation under the bill – 17-30,

Importantly, Don Young lost three of his Sub-Committee chairmen who voted against his bill (Chenoweth-Hage - ID, Cubin - WY, and Doolittle – CA). Every attempt to protect property rights was soundly defeated by Young and his Democratic alliance. Towards the end Young even refused to recognize those members with pro-property rights amendments.

George Miller called the bill "…one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation in the last 25 years." Paul W. Hansen, of the Izaak Walton League said: "Our members have waited for decades."

Provisions of the Bill

The bill earmarks $45 billion over the next 15 years, one third of which will be dedicated for Land Acquisition. Each state will be forced to use their entire portion or lose their allotment.

In a weak attempt to placate property rights, Young and Miller added the following: Congressional approval for condemnation if not purchased from a "willing seller;" approval by Congress of each parcel to be purchased; conservation easements must be used wherever possible; and, public notification is required prior to purchasing a parcel of land.

What should be crystal clear from the vote on CARA and the actions of the Chairman, is that this bill is designed to do exactly what we have warned it would do – destroy what is left of private property in America driving us to a complete socialistic state of government-owned land

Young has said he intends to bring the bill to the floor early next year. But, this legislation still has many hoops to jump through before landing on the House floor giving us many opportunities to stop it.

Please order Faxback Docs. 450, 451 for the complete list of recorded votes and offered amendments. It is important every American closely scrutinize the actions of the Chairman and those who chose to compromise with him against property rights. Also, thank those 12 who stood firm with property rights, and voted for principle and against the Chairman. 

Prepare yourselves to fight for the soul of this nation in the coming months.