Why Does Government Want Your Land?

The Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999 is a step closer to being sent to the House floor. On March 17th, the House Agriculture Committee released the bill with no hearing or amendments. Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) commented "… several members have expressed their strong concerns with portions of Title II; including the lack of a ‘no net gain to federal acreage’ provision, and insufficient protections to individuals owning property within the boundaries of federal units." Only House leadership can stop this land-grabbing bill, a bill with over 300 co-sponsors. Insiders report that leadership is leaning towards letting the bill out in hopes that the Senate will stop it. Don’t let the House play politics with our land. Contact leadership and ask them "Why does government need to own our land?" Tell them "No CARA! No COMPROMISE!" 

Congress Takes a Hike

On March 21st, the House passed H.Res. 182 by a margin of 392-2 for the purpose of "expressing the sense of the House that the National Park Service should take full advantage of support services by the Department of Defense." One of the primary arguments against CARA has been the backlog of money needed for maintenance of existing national parks. Well, now Congress has "suggested" that $8 billion be spent out of the Civil-Military Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program to assist with structures, roads, and infrastructure of our national parks. With our defense readiness at an all time low, Congress would rather take a hike. 

Administration to Fight Property Rights Bill

H.R. 2372, the "Property Rights Implementation Act," designed to help landowners expedite access to federal courts for property rights infringement, passed the House 226 - 182. The Clinton Administration threatens to veto, claiming the bill would weaken local public health, safety, and environmental protection and lower the quality of life. Spokesman for the Sierra Club says the bill helps developers override local protections against sprawl. Backers assert the bill merely allows property owners easier access to federal courts without having to endure the often lengthy and expensive permit process that allows federal bureaucrats to blackmail landowners into giving up portions of their land for their approval. The bill allows property rights cases to be filed in federal district courts and also defines when an action is considered "final" allowing landowners to enter the courts sooner rather than later. 

United Nations World Water Report

March 22nd was World Water Day at the UN, and to celebrate the occasion, 24 UN organizations met at The Hague to discuss the state of the world’s freshwater. The study was set in place at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro as part of Agenda 21. Officials say the study is necessary to head off the predicted water crisis in the 21st Century. The UN Commission for Sustainable Development’s goal is "a truly systematic, integrated and comprehensive global picture of freshwater and its management – at the river basin, regional, continental and global levels." 

Something Smells Fishy

A spectacular beach near Lompoc, CA, has been closed to the public by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect two fish - the western snowy plover and tiger salamander. Farmers have been notified that they could be fined up to $50,000 and spend a year in prison if they did not adjust their farming practices to protect the habitat, however, the Service can’t or won’t tell them what is actually prohibited. Instead, wildlife officials are calling for surveys of each farm. It is estimated as many as 23 ponds and 29,000 acres may be affected. Santa Barbara County supervisors also oppose the beach closures, having recently spent $500,000 to build a park to access Ocean Beach. A spokesman for the Environmental Defense Fund said; "We have a moral obligation to protect other inhabitants of this planet…." One frustrated farmer said; "Today it’s the salamander, tomorrow it’s who knows what."