Posted on 07/11/2002 12:56:23 PM PDT by countrydummy
American Land Rights Association - Land Rights Network PO Box 400 - Battle Ground WA 98604 Phone: 360-687-3087 - Fax: 360-687-2973 - Email: - http://www.landrights.org Legislative Office: 508 First St SE - Washington DC 20003 Phone: 202-210-2357 - Fax: 202-543-7126 - Email: landrightsnet@aol.com
"Heritage Area" Zoning Scam Returns!
*** "Heritage Area" Zoning Bill Alert!*** Scheduled for House Floor Vote Within TWO WEEKS!!! YOUR Hard Work Seriously Wounded it in Committee More Hard Work Can Help Kill it On the House Floor
ACTION ITEMS BELOW!!! As early as the week of July 15, the House of Representatives will consider legislation attacking private property rights. This time it is HR 2388, the Heritage Areas Act, sponsored by liberal Republican Rep. Joel Hefley (R-CO) and liberal Democrat Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV).
As usual, there is really no difference between the two political parties - BOTH will sell out your property rights UNLESS they hear from you! HR 2388 superimposes federal control over local zoning in exchange for grant money from Washington, D.C.
Liberal Republican Hefley insists that federal money will not lead to federal control, and that private property that falls within Heritage Area boundary lines will not be negatively impacted. Hefley has apparently either just fallen off a turnip truck, or has been in Washington, DC for much too long.
Heritage Area lands are controlled by the National Park Service - the most anti-private property agency in the federal government!
LANDOWNERS SHUT OUT OF HEARINGS Hefley was not willing to have his bill questioned or challenged during hearings. He rejected all requests for bill opponents to testify, and allowed only land-grabbing environmental groups and federal bureaucrats to have a say.
In October of 2001, Hefley attacked the American Land Rights Association (ALRA) by name for not working with him on the bill. Then just two weeks later, he rejected ALRA's request to testify - for the third time!!!
Carol LaGrasse of the Property Rights Foundation of America also requested to testify and was rejected. Here is part of the testimony that Joel Hefley does not want you to hear - here is what Carol LaGrasse WOULD have said about HR 2388 - IF - she had been permitted to testify:
"Heritage Areas require a contract between a local government entity and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to manage the land-use of the region for preservation. This means federal control of zoning, either directly, by the terms of the management compact, or indirectly, by the use of funds dispensed by preservation agencies to influence zoning under a seductive porkbarrel system.
"The iron-clad zoning is enforced locally, with the home-rule seemingly preserved, but private property owners rights diminished and locally generated land-use patterns foreclosed."
EXAMPLE: The National Coal Region Heritage Area in West Virginia:
Residents of Hinton, West Virginia lobbied for ten years for funding to repair a potholed road. They finally gained the funds.
Then AFTER the funds were approved, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that because it was part of a "Heritage Area," the road would be a Scenic Highway. As a Scenic Highway, this means that NPS can use eminent domain power to seize property and destroy the homes along the road if they do not fit into the Heritage Area's management plan.
The NPS intends to condemn the property and force out of their homes the VERY SAME local residents who lobbied for the road funding in the first place!!!!
THANK YOU Heritage Area! Check out the Sisters of the River in Hinton, West Virginia at: http://www.inlibertyandfreedom.com/rshs.htm
Although this bill was approved by the House Resources Committee on June 25, it was done with great controversy. Property Rights Champion Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) offered an amendment requiring private property owners be notified when their property falls within within a proposed Heritage Area.
This common sense amendment by Rep.Pombo only lost by a narrow 19-21 margin.
Liberal Republican Hefley and a handful of his liberal Republican SELLOUTS voted with the Democrats to defeat the amendment. With strong grass roots support from folks like you, this amendment can pass when this bill reaches the House Floor in July.
Your help is also needed to defeat an amendment by Rep. Rahall (D-WV) that would allow funds in this bill to seize private property and allow the use of condemnation!
FIRST ACTION ITEM: Contact your Congressman at 202-224-3121 and ask that he SUPPORT the Pombo Landowner Notification Amendment to HR 2388 and OPPOSE the Rahall Land-Grab amendment to the same bill.
Call your friends and neighbors also to get them to call.
You may call any Congressman at the Capitol Switchboard -- (202) 224-3121 or the temporary FREE NUMBER (800) 648-3516.
SECOND ACTION ITEM: Contact the Republican Leadership and urge them not to bring up this land-grabbing bill that threatens property rights. Tell them NO to HR 2388, NO Heritage Area federal zoning!!! House Speaker Denny Hastert (202-225-0600) Fax 202-225-0697 Speaker@mail.house.gov Majority Leader Dick Armey (202-225-4000) Fax 202-226-8100 www.Armey.House.gov Majority Whip Tom DeLay (202-225-0197) Fax 202-225-5241 www.Majoritywhip.house.gov Asst. Majority Whip Roy Blunt (202-225-6536) Fax 202-225-5604 Blunt@mail.house.gov Regular mail address for all above: (Name and title) Capitol Building Washington, DC 20515
LANDOWNERS SHUT OUT OF HEARINGS Hefley was not willing to have his bill questioned or challenged during hearings. He rejected all requests for bill opponents to testify, and allowed only land-grabbing environmental groups and federal bureaucrats to have a say.
AP, thanks for the ping,
This is an Outrage in and of itself, the people that own the land aren't even allowed to attend the hearings or bring legitimate questions? Horrific indeed!!! How is it in his power to control a "hearing"? And stop anyone from testifying? Who elected this yahoo. And yet again ANOTHER REASON NOT TO EVER VOTE FOR A RINO!
Agree,(not only the west, Try Northeast too where I live LOL) And this is why I do not agree with pulling the lever for an "R" because they are not a "D". We must rid the REPUBLICAN Party of the harmful Socialist RINOS.... ASAP! Your idea is a good one. Have a Rino Alert List. I support that Idea and find it to be a good one!! Why not start one?? I'll be the first to sign up!
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