Republican extremists allow most successful parks program to die

[Billy_Bob]

Again, the issue is about the Federal Gov't taking more land......................How much more do they need?

Especially when they need the funds to maintenance.

Not to mention the money that is supposed to be in the trust already.

People talk about the Kock brothers shit. The Fed still owns and controls the West. Nothing more than propaganda as is the thread. The battle is over funding that is gone, and stopping the Federal Gov't taking more from the States and private citizens, while pushing to fix what the Gov't already has and needs repair.

Constitutionally, the FED has NO RIGHT TO LANDS WITHIN A SOVEREIGN STATE.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Republican extremists allow most successful parks program to die
by Joan McCarter
Republican extremists allow most successful parks program to die

• 
  
• 78 Comments / 78 New

Punchbowl Falls in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
One of the most successful conservation programs in modern history—the Land and Water Conservation Fund—died Thursday when the Republican House refused to extend it, giving the Koch brothers a win.
Despite broad bipartisan support, and despite a deadline that was no surprise to anyone, Congress failed to take action to reauthorize it. That means that offshore oil and gas producers will no longer be paying into the chest that funds the program—and now that the funding connection has been broken, reinstating it will be very difficult, especially given the tone of this Congress. Instead, lawmakers will be dickering over how to divvy up former LWCF appropriations, which will now be going into the general treasury.
Earlier this summer, dozens of representatives on both sides of the aisle had signed a letter in support of the perpetually underfunded program, which has conserved more than seven million acres so far. LWCF purchases wildlife habitat, buys private inholdings within wildernesses and national parks, preserves cultural heritage sites, provides public access for fishing and hunting, and pays for urban parks, playgrounds and ballfields. (The Center for Western Priorities created an interactive map showing how LWCF has made national parks whole by paying to buy inholdings from private landowners.) And if put to a straight-up vote, reauthorization would pass both the House and Senate with bipartisan majorities.

But action on LWCF was derailed by far-right opposition, led by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, House Natural Resources chairman, reflecting the anti-public-land and anti-federal sentiments afoot in some quarters of the West. Bishop is floating his own reforms to the program, which include redirecting most of the money to state and local projects (in the 1970s, Congress removed a requirement that states get 60 percent of LWCF funding).

Here's just some of what this program has accomplished since being created in 1964—all without any taxpayer money. It "pumped almost $17 billion into federal, state, and local parks. It has protected more than 500 million acres of land, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to dramatic basalt cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The program also paid for almost two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail." It funded nearly 90 percent of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. Again, without any taxpayer funding being spent. The fund is payed for by revenues paid by oil and gas companies drilling offshore in waters owned by the American people.
Bishop calls those who fought to preserve the LWCF (including Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zink of Montana) "special interests that seek to hijack LWCF to continue to expand the federal estate and divert even more monies away from localities." Make no mistake, this is part of furthering the Koch agenda to end the creation of new national parks and to undermine public ownership of any land that might, just might, have extractable resources under it.

Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell offered this statement.

After 50 years of resounding success in enriching America's great outdoors, the Land and Water Conservation Fund needlessly faces an uncertain future. I am extremely disappointed that, despite overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress has allowed this innovative and effective program to expire. As a result, America's national parks are now at a higher risk of private development within their borders, we will have fewer tools to protect access to hunting and fishing spots, and local parks and open space projects in all 50 states may face delays or cancellation in the year ahead.

The far right in this country want to pollute our rivers and destroy our environment. We must defend our national parks and wild life or we face extinction. period.

Turing America into a polluted mess like China is disgusting. This is what unregulated corporations have done.

How about we pay for it with the money NASA is waisting on climate "science"?
Or lower the threshold for EITC or disallow everything but food from EBT cards. How about we put prisoners to work sub-contracting assembly work from corporations? How about we replace unskilled public sector workers with welfare recipients?
How about we outlaw collective bargaining for public sector labor?

How can climate science be a waste?

Just because you don't like the results?

Climate science, or should I say political science and lies, are not even based in reality. As a meteorologist this is one area I can attest to. The models are not empirical evidence of anything. One day the science might get done like it is supposed too, but right now the left wing socialists have co-opted the meme for their political gain. Until that lie is ripped apart the science will never get done properly. NOAA, NASA, and the IPCC are corrupt organizations which should be defunded or the people fired and real scientists hired who do not have political agenda as their guide..

 

[flacaltenn]

Republican extremists allow most successful parks program to die
by Joan McCarter
Republican extremists allow most successful parks program to die

• 
  
• 78 Comments / 78 New

Punchbowl Falls in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
One of the most successful conservation programs in modern history—the Land and Water Conservation Fund—died Thursday when the Republican House refused to extend it, giving the Koch brothers a win.
Despite broad bipartisan support, and despite a deadline that was no surprise to anyone, Congress failed to take action to reauthorize it. That means that offshore oil and gas producers will no longer be paying into the chest that funds the program—and now that the funding connection has been broken, reinstating it will be very difficult, especially given the tone of this Congress. Instead, lawmakers will be dickering over how to divvy up former LWCF appropriations, which will now be going into the general treasury.
Earlier this summer, dozens of representatives on both sides of the aisle had signed a letter in support of the perpetually underfunded program, which has conserved more than seven million acres so far. LWCF purchases wildlife habitat, buys private inholdings within wildernesses and national parks, preserves cultural heritage sites, provides public access for fishing and hunting, and pays for urban parks, playgrounds and ballfields. (The Center for Western Priorities created an interactive map showing how LWCF has made national parks whole by paying to buy inholdings from private landowners.) And if put to a straight-up vote, reauthorization would pass both the House and Senate with bipartisan majorities.

But action on LWCF was derailed by far-right opposition, led by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, House Natural Resources chairman, reflecting the anti-public-land and anti-federal sentiments afoot in some quarters of the West. Bishop is floating his own reforms to the program, which include redirecting most of the money to state and local projects (in the 1970s, Congress removed a requirement that states get 60 percent of LWCF funding).

Here's just some of what this program has accomplished since being created in 1964—all without any taxpayer money. It "pumped almost $17 billion into federal, state, and local parks. It has protected more than 500 million acres of land, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to dramatic basalt cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The program also paid for almost two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail." It funded nearly 90 percent of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. Again, without any taxpayer funding being spent. The fund is payed for by revenues paid by oil and gas companies drilling offshore in waters owned by the American people.
Bishop calls those who fought to preserve the LWCF (including Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zink of Montana) "special interests that seek to hijack LWCF to continue to expand the federal estate and divert even more monies away from localities." Make no mistake, this is part of furthering the Koch agenda to end the creation of new national parks and to undermine public ownership of any land that might, just might, have extractable resources under it.

Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell offered this statement.

After 50 years of resounding success in enriching America's great outdoors, the Land and Water Conservation Fund needlessly faces an uncertain future. I am extremely disappointed that, despite overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress has allowed this innovative and effective program to expire. As a result, America's national parks are now at a higher risk of private development within their borders, we will have fewer tools to protect access to hunting and fishing spots, and local parks and open space projects in all 50 states may face delays or cancellation in the year ahead.

The far right in this country want to pollute our rivers and destroy our environment. We must defend our national parks and wild life or we face extinction. period.

Turing America into a polluted mess like China is disgusting. This is what unregulated corporations have done.

How about we pay for it with the money NASA is waisting on climate "science"?
Or lower the threshold for EITC or disallow everything but food from EBT cards. How about we put prisoners to work sub-contracting assembly work from corporations? How about we replace unskilled public sector workers with welfare recipients?
How about we outlaw collective bargaining for public sector labor?

What was wrong with the way it had been funded since its inception? And why is this thread being sponsored by the Trans Canada Pipeline Group?

These people want corporations doing what ever the fuck they want to our environment. The loserterians must be defeated.

You fucking moron. EVERY BIT of that land put under conservation --- that program you admire -- has been PAID FOR by the oil companies. AND YET -- you kick them in the teeth. The GOVT didn't provide that land -- they FORCED an industry segment to fund it. And the bill would have made this program PERMANENT.

That's what happens when zombies and vampires are deputized by the Govt to go suck the blood of others. You tend to get BIGGER and more thirsty Vampires.. At LEAST send Exxon a card thanking them for the $$Millions they've poured into this fund over the years BEFORE you tell them it's a permanent cost of business..

 

[Camp]

Again, the issue is about the Federal Gov't taking more land......................How much more do they need?

Especially when they need the funds to maintenance.

Not to mention the money that is supposed to be in the trust already.

People talk about the Kock brothers shit. The Fed still owns and controls the West. Nothing more than propaganda as is the thread. The battle is over funding that is gone, and stopping the Federal Gov't taking more from the States and private citizens, while pushing to fix what the Gov't already has and needs repair.

None of these lands are being bought by the federal government or taken away from states or private owners. The lands in question have always been the property of the federal government, i.e., public property. They were obtained by conquest, treaty and outright purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was paid for with federal funds. Alaska was paid for with federal funds. The lands of the west were gained by treaties with Native American Tribes that were the recognized owners of the lands in question.
The lands in question are not private property. They are federal lands. The oil companies get permits to drill and explore for oil. When they fail to find oil they pay nothing other than a permit fee. When they strike oil they pay a royalty for the oil pumped from the well. The federal government never gives up ownership of the property, well site, or oil contained on or below the property, including deep sea property. The oil becomes property of the oil company upon payment of the oil when it moves from the property to private containment by the harvesting company.