It is hard to believe but the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee will vote on two bills that threaten landowners on Wednesday
morning at 11:30 AM Eastern Time.
The Committee is doing this because the bills passed the Senate last year
and the Senators have been told that both are non-controversial.
-----The giant Rim of the Valley Land Grab, S 153, will be voted on because
they say it passed the Senate last year and is non-controversial. You
should have received an e-mail about Rim of the Valley on Friday. It is
likely that non of the Senators has seen a map of the proposed area.
S 153
is sponsored by Diane Feinstein (D-CA) who is on the Energy Committee.
-----Wallowa Lake Dam, S231. This is a land and water grab that sets a
precedent by having the government fix a private dam that has not been
properly maintained. 10,000 other private dams are waiting in the
wings
for this government handout. Why should they maintain their dams if the
government come along and bail them out for free. S 231 is dangerous
because it encourages dam owners not to maintain their dams.
The dam owners are willing the sell out the future rights of many other
landowners. It would only cost $2,000,000 to $7,000,000 million to fix the
dam. This bill is for over $40,000,000. In addition, the local
Indian
tribe gets to control the fish aspects of the dam and plans to import and
endangered species of salmon which would bring with it huge regulatory
implications. S 231 is sponsored by Gordon Smith (R-OR) who is on
the
Energy Committee.
It is up to you to make these bills controversial in a
hurry.
-----1. You need to call and fax these Senators. They must be called
by
10:30 AM Wednesday, Eastern Time. Send them a fax. It is not
likely
e-mail will get read it time. Remember, you can call any Senator at (202)
224-3121.
-----2. Ask them to commit to looking at a map of the Rim of the Valley
proposal area at www.landrights.org
You should go there too. Ask how they
can vote for something when they have not even seen a map?
-----3. Ask for hearings this year on each bill. Tell the staff that
that
there is a lot more controversy about these bills now. You must tell them
there is a lot of new information. There is more opposition and
controversy.
-----4. Ask your Senators, if they are on the Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, to ask that these bills be put off for future consideration and
not rushed to judgment.
Here is a new list of the new Energy and Natural Resources Committee:
We'll get you the new e-mails as soon as they are published.
Because this is happening so fast, many people are not prepared.
Please forward this message as widely as possible.
Committee members and main phone numbers all numbers start with 202-224 or
228
Republicans:
Senator:
Pete Domenici (R-NM) (Chairman) (202) 224-6621--(fax) (202) 228-0900
Larry Craig (R-ID) (202) 224-2752 -- (fax) (202) 228-1067
Craig Thomas (R-WY) (202) 224-6441 -- (fax) (202) 224-1724
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) (202) 224-4944 - (fax) (202) 228-3398
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (202) 224-6665 -- (fax) (202) 224-5301
Richard Burr (R-NC) (202) 224-3154 -- (fax) (202) 228-1374
Mel Martinez (R-FL) (202) 224-3041 - (fax) (202) 228-5607
Jim Talent (R-MO) (202) 224-6154 -- (fax) (202) 228-1518
Conrad Burns R-Mt (202) 224-2644 -- (fax) (202) 224-8594
George Allen (R-VA) (202) 224-4024 -- (fax) (202) 224-5432
Gordon Smith (R-OR) (202) 224-3753 -- (fax) (202) 228-3997
Jim Bunning (R-KY) (202) 224-4343 -- (fax) (202) 228-1373
Democrats:
Senator:
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) (202) 224-5521 -- (fax) (202) 224-2852
Daniel Akaka (D-HI) (202) 224-6361 -- (fax) (202) 224-2126
Byron Dorgan (D-ND) (202) 224-2551 -- (fax) (202) 224-1193
Ron Wyden (D-OR) (202) 224-5244 --(fax) (202) 228-2717
Tim Johnson (D-SD) (202) 224-5842 -- (fax) (202) 228-5765
Mary Landrieu (D-LA) (202) 224-5824 -- (fax) (202) 224-9735
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (202) 224-3841 -- (fax) (202) 228-4741
Maria Cantwell (D-WA) (202) 224-3441 -- (fax) (202) 228-0284
Jon Corzine (D-NJ) (202) 224-4744 -- (fax) (202) 228-2197
Ken Salazar (D-CO) (202) 224-5852 -- (fax) (202) 228-4609
Because this is happening so fast, many people are not prepared.
This is a big deal.
Please forward this message as widely as possible.
Call at least three friends and get them to call.