Liberty Matters News Service

July 23, 2003  

High Praise for Sen. Messerle

State Sen. Ken Messerle, (R-OR), doubts it is appropriate to accept grants from the federal government, especially when it involves placing more land out of reach of development or traditional use. It is a stance that has earned him the contempt of several local governments and the head of Oregon's Nature Conservancy. Oregon was in line to receive $687,000 to place 200 acres of private woodlands into a conservation easement. Another deal would have meant $1 million for a conservation easement of 1,240 acres of forest and savanna lands. The grants were pending subject to legislative action by the state legislature and now, thanks to Sen. Messerle's maneuvers, the deadline has passed and the money is no longer available. "We're the laughingstock of the Forest Service in Washington, D.C." said Hilary Abraham of TNC. "They've never heard of a state rejecting federal grants before." Messerle expressed concerns that beneficial uses of the land would be forbidden. "Oregon is over 60 per cent publicly owned now. How far do we want to go down that line? We have to worry about our economy too." Senator Messerle should be commended for his tough stance against the very organized and well funded Nature Conservancy. Besides, the grant wasn't "free" money, it's our tax dollars. More state legislators need to follow Sen. Messerle's lead.
Critic Blames Conservative Lawmakers for Losing Grant

New York "Time$cam" Grabs Tax Subsidies for New Digs

The New York Times has consistently been the mouthpiece for liberals with accusations of "corporate welfare" and "crony capitalism" for the sole purpose of demonizing Republicans and President Bush. But when it comes to feeding at the public trough, the Times seems to have a memory lapse. It has recently come to light that the Times Company's development group has asked New York City officials for $400 million of federally financed "Liberty Bonds" to build their new 52-story headquarters. The tax-exempt bond program was designed to help rebuild businesses destroyed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The city government also made available to the Times a valuable piece of property on the edge of Times Square obtained by invoking eminent domain to evict the 30 businesses that occupied 11 buildings already there. Although the Times will pay $85.6 million for the parcel, it's still a 25 percent discount of what the land is actually valued, and besides, they will receive special tax breaks in the form of $26.1 million in sales tax exemptions on equipment and materials used for construction, a waiver of the mortgage-recording tax, and a discount on electricity. The Institute for Justice, an organization dedicated to wiping out eminent domain abuse, reports that the Times and its developer will recoup any cost of acquisition that exceeds $84 million in rent concessions, and after 29 years of leasing, the Times may buy the site for one dollar.
The NY Time's 9-11 Scam

TNC Faces Double-Whammy Government Investigation

A series of articles about The Nature Conservancy by the Washington Post has caught the attention of Congress. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), last week sent a letter to the Conservancy Chairman, Steven J. McCormick, asking for records of their financial dealings over the past ten years. The committee even wants social security numbers of people "who received loans and land from the nonprofit." The senators wrote that the Post's articles triggered "serious questions about TNC's practices regarding land sales, purchases and donations; executive compensation; and corporate governance…" The committee is particularly interested in sweetheart land deals TNC made with current or former trustees. The committee will also seek information about The Conservancy from the Internal Revenue Service. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit organization, although it has assets estimated in the billions of dollars. The Environmental Protection Agency has announced it is conducting an investigation of whether TNC has illegally used EPA grant money "to subsidize the purchase of lands for the benefit of Board members, trustees, or employees." The investigation is a result of a complaint filed by the Landmark Legal Foundation, a public interest legal group located in Washington, D.C. EPA has distributed over two billion taxpayer dollars to 14 non-profit special interest groups since 1993.
EPA Investigating TNC at Landmark's Request
Nature Conservancy Faces Panel Review

Ninth Circuit Court Rules Goshawk Needs No Protection

A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Northern Goshawk is not endangered, upholding a decision by U. S. District Judge Helen Frye, who ruled in 2001 that Fish and Wildlife officials did not "arbitrarily and capriciously" reject a petition to list the bird. Matt Kenna, attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said a ruling favoring goshawk listing "would have meant a reduction of logging," throughout the west. Spokesman for the American Forest and Paper Association, Michael Klein, hailed the ruling saying; "[T]his was essentially a frivolous lawsuit brought by activists who didn't know what they were talking about." The 3-0 ruling came after thirteen years of litigation and reinforces the 1998 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the goshawk did not merit protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Appeals Court Says No Protection For Goshawk