Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Exempts private property, military lands and all plant lifefrom ESA (fwd)

Thanks for update on ESA upcoming legislation.....As much as Ridcampers &
Equestrians would like not to be political......We all must recognize our
responsibilities in supporting, even advocating, for access to our public
lands.  Access that is constantly threatened in the name of conservation.
Jeannie Gillen, Member California State Trails Committee and Member of JBA
National Advisory Commmission
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hickory Ridge Arabians" <hikryrdg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 10:22 PM
Subject: [RC] Exempts private property, military lands and all plant
lifefrom ESA (fwd)


> For Your Consideration
> >From Jerry Fruth
> AERC Trails Committee Chairman
>
> Tuesday, November 12, 2002
> Hansen Files Landmark Bill to Restore Original
> Intent of ESA
> Exempts private property, military lands and all plant life from ESA
> Retiring House Resources Chairman James V. Hansen today filed a bill
> that  would exempt military lands, private property and all plant
> life from the Endangered Species Act.
> Hansen called the bill "a shot across the bow from a retiring
>  chairman"  and  a blueprint for bold changes that reflect what
> Congress originally intended when it passed the law more than 30
> years ago. "I'm just greasing the wheels
> for change here, giving my colleagues something they can act on
>  swiftly  in the next Congress," Hansen said.
> Growing problems with the ESA cost consumers and taxpayers more than
> a  billion a year in litigation, lost profits, lost jobs and rising
> operating  costs for both government and business, according to
> estimates from private  groups.
>  In some instances, private property owners can't walk their own
>  property.
> Some military bases can't use their own land for mission-critical
> training  at a time when America is on the verge of war.
>  Chairman Hansen's statement:
>  "After working with this law during my 22 years in Congress, I've
>  concluded it's the most powerful law in the land. It can be used to
> thwart  everything  from the training of our fighter pilots to the
> farmer's simple desire to plant a crop in his field so he can feed
> his family.
>  "Right now, in this country, the rights of an endangered fly or a
>  species of  seaweed take precedence over national security, commerce
> and many  people's right to the enjoyment of property and the pursuit
> of happiness.
> "Our founding fathers would be appalled.  This government was founded
> on a  few key concepts, among them the need to provide a common
> defense and  the  protection of individual property rights. These
> days, ESA is tripping up even that.  This legislation moves the
> federal government in the direction of working cooperatively with
> private landowners.  Under current law, the only option to protect
> endangered species is legal confrontation.
>  "Congress crafted this law nearly 40 years ago to protect large
>  species like  the grizzly, wolf and bald eagle from extinction.
> Frankly, the ESA  hasn't  done a particularly good job of protecting
> anything but lawyers pocketbooks. Outlawing DDT did more for our
> wildlife than the ESA has  done.
> "Meanwhile roads have been stalled, homes lost, countless jobs
>  forfeited and  thousands of acres locked up because of this ham-
> fisted law.
> Republicans and Democrats have long recognized that something needs
> to be done to fix the Endangered Species Act. I'm just making it easy
> for everybody next year by dropping a bill now with the three simple
> changes that could fix this law.
> "If we exempt private property, military lands and all plants from
>  the ESA,we would, in short order, have a more prosperous and secure
> nation  and still  have a healthy and abundant wildlife. We would
> create thousands of jobs, jump-start our economy, free up our clogged
> court system and still protect our wildlife.
>  I'd wager my federal pension you could make these changes and the
> populations of threatened and endangered species would remain the
>  same.
>  The  numbers didn't improve when we started stripping people of their
> rights. I doubt they'll go down any once we restore those rights."
>
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
 and By Laws Elections.

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