In Brief:
Keep CARA off the floor!
Liberal Senators slipped a short version of CARA (S. 990) through the Senate without a vote on December 23! This means that if the full CARA passes the House of Representatives, a conference version of the bills is virtually assured of passage in both houses.
Please contact your Representative and Speaker Dennis Hastert
of the House of Representatives to ask them to oppose CARA (H.R.
701). Telephone calls, letters, faxes
to both men, even visits to the District Office, are needed. Do
not send e-mails.
Tell your Representative that CARA threatens private property ownership and the future of rural communities. It does not matter whether the funds are spent by the federal or the state governments! If money is made available to buy up land for government, private property will be eliminated. Be sure to tell your Representative that conservation easements, which are a major feature of CARA, threaten the future of private property ownership.
Background:
The $45 billion Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701) passed the House Resources Committee last year and could theoretically go the floor at any time. The pork-barrel bill would automatically funnel $3.1 billion annually from off-shore oil drilling revenues into an untouchable trust fund to buy up private land and preserve natural resources, instead of putting the money into the general fund.
For over three years the grassroots private property rights movement has united against this bill, ironically battling Rep. Don Young (R, Alaska), who once adamantly opposed federal land acquisition, and former private property rights advocate Rep. Tauzin (R, La.). Half the pork goes their two states.
One of the most important factors in the defeat of CARA during previous Congress was that the bill moved too much money outside the normal review of the Appropriations Committee. Now, the changing economy means that CARA may be unaffordable. That’s why they slipped through “Son of CARA,” which uses only $600 million yearly, for 5 years, and keeps money within the normal budgetary process.
The National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Citizens Against Government Waste, Gun Owners of America, and Sixty-Plus also oppose CARA.. Last year, property rights activists embarrassed National Rifle Association board of directors by exposing the staff support for CARA.
The House leadership, including Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Whip Tom DeLay, are opposed to this bill. CARA has less chance of moving to the House floor because of the declining economy and the deficit, but it has 240 co-sponsors, well over the majority of 218 required for passage.
Your Action Needed:
1. Telephone, fax, write, or visit your Member of Congress
urging him to oppose HR 701, CARA! Do this even if
your Representative is an ardent environmentalist. Don’t
forget to ask local organizations where you are a member
to send letters of opposition.
Address:
[Your Congressman]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Main U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121
2. Telephone, fax, or write the Speaker of the House expressing your opposition to HR 701, CARA.
Representative J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House of Representatives
H-232
Washington, DC 205015
(202) 225-0600
Latest Updates:
The American Land Rights Association, the best source of information
about CARA, constantly e-mails updates to activists across the
country with the latest news.
Their web site is www.landrights.org
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