Posted on 03/12/2005 8:04:54 AM PST by madfly
Two years ago the Washington Post ran a series that exposed of The Nature Conservancy's fast and loose manipulation of the U.S tax Code. These articles along with grassroots contacts from folks like you resulted in the Senate Finance Committee conducting an investigation of the Nature Conservancy's practices. It appears The Nature Conservancy has hired high priced Washington lobbyists who are conducting private negotiations with the Senate Finance Committee. In exchange for some modest changes of the tax law, the investigation will end. Then things will largely remain business as unusual for The Nature Conservancy to continue its battle against rural communities. Action Items: The problem here is Senator Charles Grassley, who is a nice guy, is badly misguided on this issue. He is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and has been doing the Nature Conservancy's dirty work, clearing its tarnished name in exchange for some very weak reforms for the multibillion dollar, multinational very profitable "non-profit" Nature Conservancy. Some say the Nature Conservancy is similar to Enron, it is the World Com of "non-profits." It has worked all sorts of special deals for its board members, such as seizing land at a discounted price in the name of "conservation" - then reselling it to its board members for them to build mansions on! Tell Senator Grassley to come to his senses! Here are the key staff people who have been working with The Nature Conservancy. Tell Them:
Grassley's office phone for all of the above 202-224-3744. The Fax number for all of the above 202-224-6020. Or use this temporary toll free number to reach the Capitol Switchboard. Then ask for Senator Grassley's office. The special number is (800) 648-3516.
TNC ping!
We hear all the time about the evil of Big Business. Well, it is time to shine the light on Big Law and Big Nature.
Big Law and Big Nature are all about Big Business, Doug. It's tax exempt resource racketeering, controlling access to manipulate asset value, whether depreciating them with regulations for acquisition, or imposing artificial scarcity by the same means.
it needs to be published on someone's blog.
Follow the money!
IIRC the Nature Conservancy, unlike other environmental organizations, actually pays for the land it acquires, rather than using the government to take it. So how is this a "battle against rural communities."
It has worked all sorts of special deals for its board members, such as seizing land at a discounted price in the name of "conservation" - then reselling it to its board members for them to build mansions on!
If they pay money for the land to a willing seller, then the land is not "seized". Apparently the name of the Nature Conservancy has been tarnished by the recent actions of some board members, but that doesn't mean that there is something wrong with buying land in order to conserve its environmental qualities.
They buy raw land, attach some development restrictions and then resell the properties to supporters at greatly reduced prices. Buyers give them cash payments for roughly the amount of the discount, a sum that is then written off the buyers' federal income taxes.
It's thanks to your hard work spreading the word that I know.
BTTT!
BTT!!!!!
bttt
Bump
They also have activists out there degrading peoples property through environmental laws. People are forced to sell to them as a last resort. The Klamath farmers have experience with that fraud. Nature conservancy is the land grab version of the aclu.
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