SC Action #251-DOLE'S WAR ON THE WEST MAY MISFIRE IN CA.
Defending the Environmental Agenda
July 30, 1996
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
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Sierra Club Legislative Hotline - 202-675-2394
Sierra Club National Headquarters - 415-776-2211
Sierra Club World Wide Web - http://www.sierraclub.org
White House Comment Line - 202-456-1111
White House Fax Line - 202-456-2461
Clinton's e-mail - president@whitehouse.gov
Gore's e-mail - vice.president@whitehouse.gov
White House Address - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC
20500
US Capitol Switchboard - 202-224-3121
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Contents:
IN THE MAIN RING: JUST SAY NO TO BOONDOGGLES.
HOUSE AND SENATE MAKE CUTS TO
FOREIGN AID
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: DOLE'S WAR ON THE WEST RHETORIC
MAY MISFIRE IN CALIFORNIA.
IN THE STATES: NEW SETTLERS IN RURAL WESTERN TOWNS
IMPACT ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY.
MAINE, DON'T ROLL BACK THE PROGRESS!
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IN THE MAIN RING:
JUST SAY NO TO BOONDOGGLES.
A new General Accounting Office report released yesterday by
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) shows that farmers have paid back
less that $1 billion of the $7.1 billion they owe the Federal
Treasury for Western water projects. The report shows that
overall, U.S. taxpayers have spent $21.8 billion on water
projects in 17 Western states. Farmers were supposed to
reimburse the government less than half that amount, but have
repaid only 13%. Miller is introducing legislation to require
farmers to repay the full cost of new irrigation projects.
Farmers now pay a subsidized water rate.
No wonder fiscal conservatives and environmentally inclined
members of Congress are starting to "just say no" to expensive
projects like the Auburn Dam in CA and the Animas-La-Plata
project in CO.
However, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campell (R-CO) says that he
thinks the Animas-La-Plata proposal will be "safe" in the
Senate. He expects project backers to dominate in the
House-Senate conference and replace the funding cut out by a
221-100 vote in the House last week.
Senator Campbell claims that some House members were confused
last week when they voted to cut funding. He said some thought
a "yes" vote meant support for the project when it really was a
vote to cut funding. He also said that some members just
didn't understand the issue. He is also the Senator who is
regularly criticized in his home-state papers for being a
flip-flopper and unpredictable. Once a Democrat and now a
Republican, Senator Campbell switched his vote on the Arctic
Refuge last year, not once, but twice!
HOUSE AND SENATE MAKE CUTS TO FOREIGN AID
The House and Senate have now passed their versions of the FY
1997 foreign aid appropriations bill. The Senate voted 93-7
last Friday to approve a spending bill that cuts some $160
million out of the current year funding level and $700 million
below the administration's request.
The administration has requested $100 million for the Global
Environmental Facility -- a fund managed by the World Bank to
prevent ocean pollution, ozone depletion and the loss of
biodiversity -- but the Senate recommended only $35 million, $5
million more than the House.
There is a little good news in the bill -- but not much. The
Senate adopted an amendment offered by Sen. Claiborne Pell
(D-RI) that expresses the sense of the Senate that the United
States should encourage other governments to participate in
treaties aimed to avoiding any adverse impacts to the physical
environment or environmental interests of other nations through
the preparation of environmental impact assessments.
The Senate also continued the FY '96 level of funding, $56.25
million, for the North American Development Bank. The House
cut that by about $6 million. The Bank funds environmental
infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border.
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL:
DOLE'S WAR ON THE WEST RHETORIC MAY MISFIRE IN CALIFORNIA.
Presidential candidate Bob Dole continued his "War on the West"
theme yesterday in California, giving a "stump" speech in a
lumberyard. Mr. Dole blamed the Clinton Administration for
putting thousands of timber workers out of work, and said that
Clinton has allowed the debate over Endangered Species to be
framed by "extremists" who don't care about the Western
economy. He also criticized Clinton for "flip-flopping" on the
timber salvage rider, saying that the President showed weakness
and vacillation" by not firmly supporting the
Republican-sponsored rider.
But Dole's California message didn't seem to satisfy anyone.
Clinton campaign advisors were mystified as to why Dole would
choose California, well-known for leaning green, as a site for
bashing environmental protection laws. One Clinton strategist
was quoted as saying "It shows how out of touch {Dole} is with
California." Mark DiCamillo, director of CA's Field Poll
called Dole's strategy "perilous." "You cannot run against the
environment in California and expect to win. Protection of the
environment is such a motherhood issue in this state."
Even Dole's advisor's criticized his performance. In Sunday's
speech in Montana, Dole was much tougher, accusing Clinton of a
"war on the West" and using strong states' rights rhetoric.
But in California, he focused mostly on the Clearcut Rider and
didn't mention a war on the West. "The meat wasn't as red as
some people might have liked. But the point was made," Dole
advisor Ken Khachigian told reporters. Dole aides say that
tapping into resentment among property owners to environmental
policies that block development is key to winning the
all-important western vote in November.
But more important than the spin from politicians and pundits
was the reaction of some in the crowd at the lumberyard. James
White, who owns a small plumbing business, told the New York
Times, "This is a resort community. We need to protect it
while we can. A lot of us live here."
IN THE STATES:
NEW SETTLERS IN RURAL WESTERN TOWNS IMPACT ENVIRONMENT AND
ECONOMY
The Clinton campaign disputes Dole's claims of job loss
resulting from environmental protection. Spokesperson Joe
Lockhart says that 20,000 timber jobs were lost during the Bush
administration, but 6,400 have been created since Clinton took
office.
But don't just take it from the politicos -- a new book by U of
Montana economist Thomas Powers shows that traditional western
economies based on logging, mining and grazing are
disappearing, but towns are thriving as a result of "urban
refugees." For example, the book "Lost Landscapes and Failed
Economies" points out, in 1993 mining accounted for just 1% of
the jobs in Colorado's Montrose County, compared to 17% in
1979. And the area's real income increased by 150% during
those years!
The new "settlers" in rural Western towns are in medicine, law,
business, technology and teaching. A "high-quality" work force
fosters new businesses and real economic growth, rather than
supporting just minimum wage positions. Quality of life
issues, such as a healthy environment and attractive natural
surroundings are important to these new residents (and voters).
Powers says that resource extraction industries blame
environmental regulations for their demise, but he contends
that automation were causing layoffs before strong
environmental laws came along.
MAINE, DON'T ROLL BACK THE PROGRESS!
According to a new study by the Maine Dept. of Env. Protection,
the level of dioxins in Maine's rivers are significantly lower
than they were in the 1980's. The report says that the
reduction in dioxins is due to lowered discharges by bleach
kraft mills. State officials hope that as paper mills
continue to decrease dioxin releases, the state will be able to
lift fish health advisories.