In the face of the full-scale fascism of this lawless administration, I feel like the coming impact to our public lands cannot get much attention. I recognize that a destructive road through pristine wilderness is easy to ignore when it is happening along side of the rapid destruction of public health and the mass deportation of so many people. However, this aspect of Trump 2.0 hurts so much for those of us who understand the true value of public lands.
It is unconscionable that this is happening! It has been an overwhelming 8 months of this shit yet we can't lose sight of what we value and know is so important to us as citizens and our love of the great outdoors and the laws that were passed to protect them. Time to get busy with calls, emails, and postings to everybody you know to stand up and make a difference now.
In 2017, the Trumpers tried to use the CRA to undo the BLM methane rule that was implemented in the last days of the Obama administration. The rule required the end of methane flare-offs from oil & gas operations in favor of capturing the methane, processing it, and selling it. There were new companies ready to get to work on the capture, creating thousands of new jobs across the West.
The effort failed by just one vote in the US Senate; the late Senator John McCain voted NO. McCain agreed somewhat with the proponents wanting to end the rule. But also said that overturning the rule would preclude bringing anything comparable back for consideration.
Unfortunately, the oil & gas extraction caucus in Congress found a way later to emasculate the rule.
Bill Clinton signed this abomination into law in 1996 as part of a deal to get his Contract with America Advancement Act approved. It came from Newt Gingerich, who had his own Contract “with “ America idea. (Contract on is more like it.) At the time there was a vast amount of Republican hype that career public servants, characterized as nameless faceless bureaucrats working at the EPA, OSHA, HHS, etc., were operating beyond the reach of congressional oversight. Gingerich, speaker of the house at the time, railed against government overreach which “strangled business and ignored voters”. Clinton who was somewhat sympathetic to the idea was forced into making the deal. Gingerich, and his cronies worked hard figuring out this nefarious tool and basically handed it to the President.
Clinton thought there was very litle chance that it would ever be used.
Madison in Federalist papers 10 argued that many factions would form but that it would be hard for a faction to be able to create a majority around greedy or destructive purposes. This owing to their diverse interests in a large Republic.
Both Madison and Clinton underestimated the tenacity and cleverness of those representing greed and destruction.
The time bomb Gingerich placed 30 years ago may have ticked a couple of times but the specialists in congress are prepping it for final detonation.
Call your representatives, lean hard on your senators, make a list of everyone you call along with their email and postal addresses. Send out regular emails to everyone, paper mail if you can afford it. Don’t leave out the republicans. Prepare you quiver of sharp communications well and use them.
Thank you Wes for informing us about this. Without you I for one would have remained unaware.
Members of Congress are not land managers! Clear overreach.
Years of science backed management plans gone with 1 single vote by non-experts (Congress). And blocking similar management plans for the future. Truly devastating for public lands.
I see where you're coming from. But there are few, if any, independents around the West and even fewer with a chance of winning. Evan McMullen in Utah was the most recent independent.
In the face of the full-scale fascism of this lawless administration, I feel like the coming impact to our public lands cannot get much attention. I recognize that a destructive road through pristine wilderness is easy to ignore when it is happening along side of the rapid destruction of public health and the mass deportation of so many people. However, this aspect of Trump 2.0 hurts so much for those of us who understand the true value of public lands.
It is unconscionable that this is happening! It has been an overwhelming 8 months of this shit yet we can't lose sight of what we value and know is so important to us as citizens and our love of the great outdoors and the laws that were passed to protect them. Time to get busy with calls, emails, and postings to everybody you know to stand up and make a difference now.
In 2017, the Trumpers tried to use the CRA to undo the BLM methane rule that was implemented in the last days of the Obama administration. The rule required the end of methane flare-offs from oil & gas operations in favor of capturing the methane, processing it, and selling it. There were new companies ready to get to work on the capture, creating thousands of new jobs across the West.
The effort failed by just one vote in the US Senate; the late Senator John McCain voted NO. McCain agreed somewhat with the proponents wanting to end the rule. But also said that overturning the rule would preclude bringing anything comparable back for consideration.
Unfortunately, the oil & gas extraction caucus in Congress found a way later to emasculate the rule.
Bill Clinton signed this abomination into law in 1996 as part of a deal to get his Contract with America Advancement Act approved. It came from Newt Gingerich, who had his own Contract “with “ America idea. (Contract on is more like it.) At the time there was a vast amount of Republican hype that career public servants, characterized as nameless faceless bureaucrats working at the EPA, OSHA, HHS, etc., were operating beyond the reach of congressional oversight. Gingerich, speaker of the house at the time, railed against government overreach which “strangled business and ignored voters”. Clinton who was somewhat sympathetic to the idea was forced into making the deal. Gingerich, and his cronies worked hard figuring out this nefarious tool and basically handed it to the President.
Clinton thought there was very litle chance that it would ever be used.
Madison in Federalist papers 10 argued that many factions would form but that it would be hard for a faction to be able to create a majority around greedy or destructive purposes. This owing to their diverse interests in a large Republic.
Both Madison and Clinton underestimated the tenacity and cleverness of those representing greed and destruction.
The time bomb Gingerich placed 30 years ago may have ticked a couple of times but the specialists in congress are prepping it for final detonation.
Call your representatives, lean hard on your senators, make a list of everyone you call along with their email and postal addresses. Send out regular emails to everyone, paper mail if you can afford it. Don’t leave out the republicans. Prepare you quiver of sharp communications well and use them.
Thank you Wes for informing us about this. Without you I for one would have remained unaware.
Gingrich. Unless you are purposely try to poke at Newt the Grinch or something like that?
Just spelling from 30 year old memory. My apologies to the readers, not to him.
Truly hanus.
Good lord
I couldn't have said it better myself.
It is unconscionable that this is happening! Must find a way to stop this!!!!
Members of Congress are not land managers! Clear overreach.
Years of science backed management plans gone with 1 single vote by non-experts (Congress). And blocking similar management plans for the future. Truly devastating for public lands.
I put together a detailed summary of what the RMPs contain that are being attacked by congress. https://theconservationcurrent.substack.com/p/summary-of-the-resource-management
Truly unconscionable that it's impacting all public lands RMPs nationally. Brooke Rollins spearheading all this with her ties to the Heritage Fndn?
Owning the Libs
You mentioned the Senate fight. What can be done. Any thoughts on the current pulse of that?
Call your Senator. Work to elect Democrats in the mid-terms.
Work to elect independents who value your land ethics and are intent on supporting and defending the Constitution.
We are very much in an us (Americans) versus them (fascists) moment. Now is not the time to waste your vote.
I see where you're coming from. But there are few, if any, independents around the West and even fewer with a chance of winning. Evan McMullen in Utah was the most recent independent.
Dan Osborn in Nebraska is running. https://www.osbornforsenate.com/
Adam Kinzinger had a great interview with Dan recently.
https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/dan-osborn-how-an-independent-can
Thanks. Forgot about Dan.
Ok
Party line vote? Or….
What else would it be?
Just checking. Always like to be aware of just whom the complicit Dems might be