Senate Passed 'Land Grab' Angers Property Rights Activists

CNSNews.com ^ | By Christine Hall

[expose]

Senate Passed 'Land Grab' Angers Property Rights Activists

By Christine Hall

CNSNews.com Staff Writer

(CNSNews.com) - In the waning days of 2001, the Senate passed a $600 million-a-year bill designed to conserve habitat and open space in a way that doesn't hurt farmers and local economies. Still, opponents call it a "land grab" that gives state bureaucrats and environmental groups the power to call the shots over private property.

The American Wildlife Enhancement Act of 2001 was passed by voice vote in the Senate on Dec. 20 as an add-on to an existing law, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA).

But Michael Hardiman, a lobbyist for the American Land Rights Association, dubs it the "Condemnation and Relocation Act."

"Reinvestment" is a just a euphemism, said Hardiman.

"In other words, you're going to seize property and hand out grants to your friends," he said.

CARA and the new Senate bill work by granting federal tax collars to a variety of conservation groups, with state land management agencies getting the lion's share of the money. State agencies can then condemn a property owner's land and use CARA grant money to compensate the property owner for what the agency deems is the land's "fair market value."

Landowners argue that what the government calculates as fair market value is far below the land's real market value. They also complain that their only option in challenging a government agency's decision is to take the government to court - a long, arduous and expensive process for the average landowner.

According to Hardiman, the Senate bill's success was due to the deft political maneuvering of the bill's chief sponsors, Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Bob Smith (R-N.H.). The duo was able to get a voice vote on the bill the afternoon the Senate adjourned for the year.

Also, Hardiman said Reid and Smith were successful in recruiting a key conservative -Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) - to co-sponsor the bill as a favor to Smith, whom Hardiman believes is trying to court liberal voters to win a 2002 primary challenge from fellow N.H. Republican, Rep. John Sununu. Susan Wheeler, a spokesperson for Crapo, said the lawmaker "is good friends with Sen. Smith, as he is with a number of members of Congress, [but he] would not sign onto a bill as a favor to a senator that would abrogate private property rights."

Wheeler did agree with Hardiman that Crapo stood out among the bill's otherwise liberal-to-moderate co-sponsors. "It is an interesting group," she said.

But, said Wheeler, Crapo believed the bill was "consistent with...allowing states to make [conservation] decisions. The bill does not go after private property [and] there is no federal land acquisition in the bill; it's only at the state level.

"The senator would have preferred to see more debate on this bill," Wheeler added. "But no senator stepped forward to place a hold on the bill or seek debate."

The American Land Rights Association, a Washington state group, plans to mobilize its members against the House bill, which goes even further than its counterpart passed in the Senate.

The pending House bill spends more ($3.1 billion annually versus $600 million) and sets up a trust fund for the CARA program in which the money is automatically spent, instead of requiring Congress to agree on spending every year.

Also, the House bill, which land rights groups call "full CARA," has "additional threat[s]," as Hardiman puts it. It allows state agencies to designate urban parks and recreation land as conservation areas.

Spokespeople for Senators Reid and Smith did not return calls seeking comment.

[tomakaze]

RE:Keep voting for those Republicans, they are all for "smaller" government you know. (/sarcasm)

Right - it's like abused wife syndrome or something. I better be careful though or I'll p*ss off the throne sniffers.

[GeronL]

government should not own such huge portions of land in the states... all non-military and no-park lands should be given back to the states.

[GeronL]

its only slightly better than voting Libertarian

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yikes, what did happen to bookmark?

John must have something in mind.

[poet]

Is anybody really surprised about this? I'm not!!

There is only one party and that is the party placed in power by the power brokers/powerful families and it doesn't matter what label they wear.

Just think back good people, with rare exceptions, the only choices we've had are the rockefellers, henry cabot lodges, the kennedys, the roosevelts, the bushes and on and on.

The repubs are just as corrupt as the dems IMO. They recently joined the dems in giving themselves a $4,900 increase while giving social security recipients an average of $37.00 and they did in the midnite hour as they did with the recent land grab of CARA.

And we mustn't forget the recent GESTAPO law they just passed WITHOUT even reading it?

How about the exec order prohibiting fed law enforcement from providing info to congress relative to the traitors and their gang of corruption?

If that's the kind of leadership we want, then we deserve what we get.

[DoughtyOne]

I've wanted to use the Bookmark feature about five times this evening. Grrr... heh heh heh

[backhoe]

I posted another source here:

APC Sledgehammer Alert! ***Senate Betrays YOU! Passes “Son of CARA” in the Dark of Night

It has some communication info you may find useful.

[glock rocks]

APC Sledgehammer Alert! ***Senate Betrays YOU! Passes “Son of CARA” in the Dark of Night

[sauropod]

Re: Post # 2. Precisely.

Vote Constitution Party next time.

Deus Vult! 'Pod.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[ProudGenXLibertarian]

At least with libertarians, they actually believe in what they say they believe in.

[headsonpikes]

Stop Rural Cleansing Now!

[hattend]

Thanks for the ping....BTTT

[QuestionBureaucracy]

The enumerated powers of congress include:

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;

from Article I, section 8 of the Constitution.

That "purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be" clause, one would think, might actually mean something, but of course, the Supreme Court in all its infinite glorious majesty knows so much better...

[d4now]

Did you see this?

NRA Support of Land Conservation Bill Called 'Misguided'

Forgive my confusion but did the NRA support this or not?

[Bump in the night]

This crap makes me sick. I don't even know what to say. I'm furious that the Republicans, the people I voted for, are part of this. Treasonous bastards!

[madfly]

I think everybody should register NON PARTISAN, to make each party aware that they have no "automatic party votes" rolling in, unless they are worthy. Then voters can continue to vote straight repub or dem, or split ballot, or indpendent. I feel a MOVEMENT like this would eliminate the "counts" of registered repubs in each district/state and polls would have to include "registered voters - NO PARTY.

I believe there is nothing to lose by registering non-partisan. I always have, but just last year was first time anyone but Repub or Dems could vote in the primary in AZ. With that changed, whats the dif?? Is this true for all 50 states?

This would be a painless effort, but could send a BIG SIGNAL.
NOTHING is getting done writing our congressmen.

Everyone is getting more and more FRUSTRATED about a laundry list of wrongs!
as i am now, ahhhh second rant of the day...
goodbye

[madfly]

Forgive my confusion but did the NRA support this or not?

I posted this in November, under this title:

Some NRA Directors lead charge against CARA Land Grab

News - Sierra Times.com

An Internet Publication For Real Americans Home >> News >> Article

	NRA: Heroes and Zeroes By Mike Hardiman - American Land Rights Association 11.08.01 The National Rifle Association's Board of Directors met on November 3 and placed new restrictions and qualifications on its support for the "CARA" Land Grab bill. Below is what various Board Directors and others had to say about CARA. CARA is HR 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. But our nickname for it is CARA - the Condemnation and Relocation Act, since it provides over one billion dollars per year for state and federal government agents to condemn private property. IMPORTANT: The NRA Board serves staggered three year terms. One-third of the board is up for election each year. If you are an NRA member, the next time you vote for the Board of Directors, consider who favored the CARA Land Grab versus who supported gun rights and property rights. Next Board election, ASK the NRA Directors - where do you stand on CARA??? How did you vote on the Land Grab? See below who led the fight both for and against. Here are a few of the "Heroes and Zeroes" among the NRA Board of Directors. THANK the Heroes and SPANK the Zeroes!!! Remember them next time they are up for reelection to the NRA Board! THANK the following NRA Directors for leading the charge against CARA and for gun rights and property rights: HEROES: U S Senator and NRA Director Larry Craig of Idaho - Led the charge on Thursday and Friday, when CARA was debated in committees. U S Representative and NRA Director Barbara Cubin of Wyoming - had a commitment in Wyoming and could not attend, but sent word that she was opposed to CARA and was quoted by Directors during debate. Director John Cushman of New York - pointed out that the words "sportsmen" and "hunting" are not even mentioned in CARA, and questioned it's benefit to gun owners. NRA Second Vice President Sandra Froman of Arizona - was unable to attend, but called in and made it clear that CARA has massive grassroots opposition among the broad base of NRA members. Director Susan Howard of Texas - spoke at length against CARA, stating "Texas is nearly all private property, and thank goodness for that!" Director Dave Keene of Virginia - CHAMPION. With Wayne Ross, he proposed striking out the resolution language that claimed CARA actually helped property owners. Keene and Ross carried the day by a vote of 35 to 10. U S Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma - is not a Board member and did not attend the meeting. However, he was cited as a prominent opponent. Nickles has given the best response of all when asked about CARA's claims to having "property rights protections." He said they were "a head fake!" Director Grover Norquist of Washington, DC - Norquist pointed out that most conservative organizations are strongly opposed to CARA, and that the NRA is even becoming isolated among gun owner and hunting groups. Several of the NRA's own state affiliates have come out against the Land Grab. Director Ted Nugent of Michigan - was not present, but made his opposition to the Land Grab known publicly ahead of the meeting. In his own words, the Motor City Madman and rock and roll legend simply said, "CARA SUX!" Director Jay Printz of Montana - announced ahead of meeting that he did not support CARA, and helped to organize opposition. NRA First Vice President Kayne Robinson of Iowa - chaired the meeting on Saturday ( NRA President Charleton Heston was not present ). He was fair and even handed, but made it clear that he does not support the CARA Land Grab. Director Wayne Ross of Alaska - CHAMPION. Led the charge for freedom at the full Board meeting on Saturday, delivering a lengthy speech against the NRA's involvement in a massive, unprecedented land acquisition buying spree like CARA. Worked with Director Dave Keene to strip out pro-CARA language from the resolution. Director Bruce Stern of Connecticut - Quote of the Day: Stern said that the resolution endorsing CARA was "semi-congealed pudding." He added that Directors should not "sign a document before it is filled in" because CARA keeps changing and adding more pork as it moves through the legislative process. Director Harry Thomas of Ohio - asked several times about CARA's fire hose of guaranteed billions to condemn private land. ZEROES - supported CARA, the Pork Barrel Land Grab - over one billion dollars per year to condemn private property (in alphabetical order): Director Thomas Arvas of New Mexico - Chairman of the Wildlife Committee, spoke in favor of a strong endorsement for CARA. NRA Institute for Legislative Action Chief Lobbyist Jim Baker - demonstrated nothing but contempt for CARA opponents. The NRA's top lobbyist is definitely out of touch with grassroots membership. Director Mike Lee of Maine - suggested that members should "have trust and confidence in the staff." Let's see now, that's the same staff that got NRA into this CARA mess in the first place! No way! Director Jim Nicholson - is fortunate to live in Texas, which is 98% private land. It will not be 98% private for much longer if CARA is approved - careful! You may get what you ask for! Director James Porter - thinks CARA is great, but also said "this issue is screwed up - we have got to find a way out of this." NRA staff member Susan Lamson - authored several letters to Congressmen and Senators over the past three years in support of the CARA Land Grab, and testified in person as well. ***The Worst*** Director Harold Volkmer of Missouri - was the Number One CARA supporter on Saturday, speaking in favor of it several times. Volkmer was a Congressman for nearly twenty years, and eventually gained a reputation for being out of touch with constituents. He was finally booted out of office in 1996 by Missouri constituents who had had enough. Perhaps it is time for NRA members to do the same, and send Volkmer packing! Director J D Williams of Texas - claimed repeatedly that CARA will not lead to condemnation of private property, said it would all be "willing sellers." Sure, Mr. Williams! "Willing sellers" after endangered species devalue your land, government agencies threaten your access, and environmental extremists slap you with lawsuits!!! WAKE UP ! U S Representative and NRA Director Don Young of Alaska - the congressional sponsor of CARA. Young did not anticipate that there would be a floor fight on Saturday, and so left the NRA Board meeting a day early, on Friday. He was sure surprised upon discovering that his resolution had been sliced and diced! Saturday's Board resolution, which scaled back but did not yet eliminate NRA's misguided support for CARA, is another small victory for the forces of freedom - thank those who were with us, educate the rest, and keep fighting.
		More at the News Ranch Today... Announcing: Operation: Restore the Eagle Mining Company Gets Protection in Legislation Pushed by Daschle Senate Passed 'Land Grab' Angers Property Rights Activists New Year - New Laws Former First Dog Whacked (and we don't mean Hillary) TN: ACLU Challenged to Debate Ten Commandments IssueMore... Today's Latest Commentary... What Do We Really Want, Dream or Illusion? By Colonel Dan New Year, Old War By Jeff Dantre' The Airport Security Charade By Samuel L. Blumenfeld Prepare Yourself To Be Safe By Sheriff Michael E. Cook End of the ABM Treaty and the Cold War By Jeff AdamsMore...			Permission to reprint/republish granted, as long as you include the name of our site, the author, and our URL. www.SierraTimes.com All Sierra Times news reports, and all editorials are © 2001 SierraTimes.com

[d4now]

Thank you madfly. Interesting and Insighful.

[madfly]

Yes, good to know this stuff.