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Chief Paulina
Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 486 | TRs | Pics
Location: Ochoco country |
I stand ready for action.
"Life's been good to me so far" - Joe Walsh
"Life's been good to me so far" - Joe Walsh
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Newt
Short Timer
Joined: 21 Dec 2001
Posts: 3176 | TRs | Pics
Location: Down the road and around the corner |
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Newt
Short Timer
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 Sat Sep 18, 2004 8:12 am |
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| Quote: | | penalties of $5,000 for
non-compliance |
Pretty stiff.
It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
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polarbear
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Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
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Bob K
Member
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Posts: 433 | TRs | Pics
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Bob K
Member
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Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:11 am |
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According to this article, there wasn't much opposition:
| Quote: | | House Resolution 3283, which would enact permanent fees for the recreational use of America's public lands, passed a House committee Wednesday morning with only one Congressman, Nick Rahall (D-WV), speaking in dissent, said Robert Funkhouser, president of the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition, a group that lobbies against the bill. |
FYI, Washington congressman Jay Inslee is on that committee and he did not oppose it. E-mail him here.
Related question: Why is the Sierra Club in favor of entrance fees to National Parks?
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polarbear
Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
I'm on Scott Silver's ( http://www.wildwilderness.org/ ) email list, so here's an update (unfortunately a few days late as it was sent to to my junk mail folder). Read this one, then read my following post:
| Quote: | | The battle has been won. Congratulations to everyone who participated.
From what I have just heard (which I consider to be as reliable as political
information can be reliable), Senator Craig Thomas, with support from
Senators Burns, Stevens and others have prevented the inclusion of any
fee-demo related legislation within the Appropriations Bills now working
their way through Congress. Not only does it appear that they have
prevented HR 3283 from being attached as a rider, they appear to have
ensured that there will be NO fee-demo extension passed in this lame duck
session.
If this information proves correct, we will have managed to get through 2004
without any new fee-demo legislation being passed. That in itself would be a
major achievement. But just as important, and for the first time since this
unpopular program was authorized (as a rider placed upon the 1996 Interior
Appropriations Bill), Congress will not have extended the program -- a test
program origanally set to end in 1999. Fee-demo is currently set to
terminate at the end of next year. Unless the 109th Congress passes
fee-demo legislation in its first session, fee-demo will be history on
Janurary 1, 2006.
I'm writing not simply to share the good news -- though it certainly is the
kind of wonderful news I'd want to share as quickly as possible. I would
have preferred to have waited until the proverbial fat lady had sung before
saying anything, but I need another favor and I needed to explain why I'm
now asking for this favor.
Your response to this morning's action alert has been so overwhelming, that
the Senators have asked that we stop the calls and Faxes. They need to
regain the use of their phone and fax lines and they've assured us that our
message has gotten through loud and clear. I'm asking you to please STOP
calling and faxing Senators Burns and Stevens.
Assuming no 11th hour shenanigans, it really does appear that we all have
something wonderful to celebrate. The fee-demo war is not yet won, but it's
likely that we will begin 2005 stronger, and better prepared to defeat
fee-demo, than at any time before.
My thanks to everyone. Let's keep our fingers crossed. As Congress adjourns,
I will give you a final legislative update.
Scott
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Scott Silver
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Ave.
Bend, OR 97701
phone: 541-385-5261
e-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org
Internet: http://www.wildwilderness.org |
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polarbear
Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
Here is the next email I got a few days later:
| Quote: | | REGULA RECANTS AGREEMENT
PERMANENT FEE BILL BACK ON OMNIBUS
!!!IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED !!!
Wednesday night we shared with you the good news that Congressman Regula had
backed off the attemt to attach the permanent fee bill HR 3283 to the
appropriations omnibus as a rider. Unfortunately the story does not end
there.
On Wednesday, House leaders tried to insert into the Omnibus Appropriations
bill the language of Representative Ralph Regula's (R-OH) fee-demo bill HR
3283. If successfully attached, upon passage of the Appropriations Bill, HR
3283 would become the law of the land, regardless of the fact that Regula's
bill was not introduced in the US Senate, given a hearing, voted upon or
passed by a majority of Senators.
On Wednesday evening key Senators, including the Chairs of the Interior
Appropriations, Energy & Natural Resources, National Parks, and Public Lands
Committees and subcommittees solidly opposed inclusion of HR 3283 into the
Appropriations Bill, and through their steadfast efforts the fee-demo rider
was not attached.
What happened after that is not precisely known, but based upon ongoing
conversations with the staffs of Senate leaders, it appear that Congressman
Regula went directly to the Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and
asked for additional muscle to be brought to bear in getting his rider
attached. Hastert, in turn, appears to have gone over the heads of the above
Senators and struck a deal with either Senate Appropriations Committee Chair
Ted Stevens (R-AK) or Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). The upshot
is that Regula's fee-demo bill has now been inserted into the bill.
Yet the story does not end here either. Those key Senators who successfully
fought off Regula's challenge are not giving up the fight. Senators Domenici
(R-NM), Thomas (R-WY), Craig (R-ID) and Burns (R-MT) are now working to have
Regula's language REMOVED from the Omnibus bill before the final bill is
voted upon (which may be Sunday or sooner).
They need your help and here's what you can do:
WHO TO CALL/FAX TODAY (and continue faxing through the weekend!)
(1) Senator Bill Frist (R-TN),
Senate Majority Leader,
phone (202) 224-3344
fax (202) 228-1264
(2) Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK),
Chair Senate Appropriations Committee,
phone (202) 224-7363
fax (202) 228-0248
(3) Rep. Bill Young (R-FL)
Chair House Appropriations Committee
phone (202) 225-2771
fax (202) 225-9764
(4) Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX)
Leader of the House
phone (202) 225-5951
fax (202) 225-5241
(5) Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
Speaker of the House
phone (202) 225-2976
fax (202) 225-0697
WHAT TO SAY ON THE PHONE:
Please oppose HR 3283 as a rider to the Interior Appropriations bill.
SAMPLE FAX: (please vary a little)
Please oppose HR 3283 as an Interior Appropriations rider.
S. 1107, the National Parks recreation fee bill, has already been approved
by the Senate.
Permanent fees for the other public lands agencies should come before public
hearings in the next session of Congress. It is inappropriate to legislate
permanent recreation fees by rider in a lame duck session of Congress.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
(Please print your name and address very clearly).
--
Please call and fax today and Saturday and forward to all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Scott Silver
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Ave.
Bend, OR 97701
phone: 541-385-5261
e-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org
Internet: http://www.wildwilderness.org |
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Sore Feet
Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 6307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Out There, Somewhere |
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Malachai Constant
Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 16093 | TRs | Pics
Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
Why am I not suprised? 
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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polarbear
Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
Here is the latest. I can't believe how lame this is. Evidently the fee demo cannot be passed based on its own merits alone:
| Quote: | | Shenanigans, dirty politics and brutally applied abuse of raw power has,
once again, trumped the Democratic process. As a result of actions taken by
Congress earlier in this day, the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program is no
longer a "demonstration" program and, as a result, America's public lands
have become less public.
It's unfortunate that I must report that an important battle in what has
already been a seven year long struggle was lost today. But the war is
anything but over. Never doubt that the public will trump the special
interests who are responsible for creating and forcing this program upon an
unwilling and resentful public.
Pasted below are two press releases. The first is the Western Slope No Fee
Coalition. They tell it like it is. The second is from those who passed
legislation so unpopular that it could not have become law unless attached
as a rider to 'must-pass' legislation such as the Omnibus Appropriations
bill.
In the days, weeks and months ahead, I will be sharing with you increasingly
aggressive strategies that, when executed, will ensure that the newly passed
recreation fee program will fail. Your ongoing support and personal efforts
will be even more important in the future than they have been in the past. I
thank you for everything you have done. I thank you in advance for all that
you will do in the future.
Scott
------ begin quoted --------
Western Slope No Fee Coalition
November 20, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Robert Funkhouser, 802/235-2299, rfunk9999@earthlink.net
Kitty Benzar, 970/259-4616, wsnfc@hotmail.com
OHIO CONGRESSMAN RAMS PUBLIC LAND ACCESS FEES THROUGH CONGRESS
Western Senators Try But Fail to Stop Controversial Measure
An Ohio congressman with no public lands in his district has forced a
measure through Congress to implement permanent access fees for recreation
on all land managed by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.
Ralph Regula (R-OH), the original architect of the unpopular Recreational
Fee Demonstration Program (Fee Demo), succeeded in attaching his bill as a
rider to the giant Omnibus Appropriations Bill recently enacted in the lame
duck session of Congress. The bill was never passed by the House and was
never introduced, given a hearing, or voted upon in the Senate. Omnibus
bills are considered "must pass" legislation because of the potential for a
government shutdown. Some members of Congress use riders attached to them as
a way of getting funding for pet projects often referred to as "pork."
Regula's bill, HR 3283, allows the federal land management agencies to
charge access fees for recreational use of public lands by the general
public. The bill has been highly controversial and is opposed by hundreds of
organizations, state legislatures, county governments and rural Americans.
HR 3283 passed the House Committee on Resources in September under strong
pressure from Regula, who is expected to become the next Chairman of the
powerful House Appropriations Committee. His bill is a radical change in the
way public lands are funded and stands in contrast to a more moderate
competing bill passed by the Senate. There, Senator Thomas (R-WY) sponsored
S.1107 that would let the National Park Service retain their entrance fees
for local use but would allow access fees to expire in the other agencies.
Thomas's bill passed the Senate in May by unanimous consent but never had a
hearing in the House.
Early in last week's lame duck session, Regula's attempts to attach his
rider were strongly rejected by the Chairmen of all four pertinent Senate
committees. Senator Thomas of the National Parks Subcommittee, Senator
Domenici (R-NM) at Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Craig (R-ID) of the
Public Lands Subcommittee, and Senator Burns (R-MT), Chair of the Interior
Appropriations Committee, all westerners, succeeded in forcing Regula to
remove his rider on Tuesday.
By Thursday, however, Regula had reneged on the agreement. He went over the
heads of the Senate's public lands chairmen and struck a deal with Senator
Ted Stevens (R-AK), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Regula
reportedly agreed to give Stevens funding for a road in a remote community
in Alaska in exchange for allowing Regula's bill to be reattached.
That left the four Senators who had negotiated the original deal hopping mad
and disappointed millions of fee opponents who expected that such a seismic
shift in policy would receive public hearings, not be done behind closed
doors.
"This was a victory of pork over principle," said Robert Funkhouser,
President of the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition, which has worked to oppose
the Fee Demo program. "Ralph Regula is responsible for the first tax
increase of the Bush administration. He and Senator Stevens have sold out
America's heritage of public lands for the price of a road."
The Regula bill will go into effect when Fee Demo expires at the beginning
of fiscal year 2005 unless the new congress acts to derail it. Its key
provisions include permanent recreation fee authority for all National
Forests and BLM land as well as all land managed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Park Service.
Failure to pay the fees will be a criminal offense punishable by up to
$5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Drivers, owners, and occupants of vehicles
not displaying either a daily or annual pass will be presumed guilty of
failure to pay and can all be charged, without obligation by the government
to prove their guilt. The measure encourages agencies to contract with
private companies and other non-governmental entities to manage public lands
and to enforce fee collection. The bill also establishes a national,
interagency annual pass called the America the Beautiful Pass, expected to
cost $85-$100 initially.
These provisions have encountered strong opposition in the west and in rural
areas nationwide. The program is considered a double tax by many and puts
the burden of funding the management agencies on the backs of rural
Americans. Regula's bill failed to attract a single western sponsor but was
co-sponsored by seven eastern congressmen.
"This is an abuse of position by Congressman Regula" according to
Funkhouser. "Changing public land policy in the middle of the night via a
rider is despicable. Once again the Congressman has proven to be hostile to
rural and western values and will stop at nothing to push his agenda".
The provisions in HR 3283 are intended to replace the former Fee Demo
program, also created by Regula. Fee Demo was similarly passed as a rider on
an Omnibus Appropriations bill in 1996. Originally a two-year demonstration,
it was repeatedly extended and is now in its eighth year. Fee Demo has
sparked protests nationwide and widespread non-compliance. Hundreds of
organized groups, as well as four state legislatures and dozens of counties,
opposed the program.
Contacts:
Senator Thomas's office - 202-224-6441
Congressman Regula's office - 202-225-3876
Senator Stevens's office - 202-224-3004
--- END ---
===BEGIN SECOND NEWS RELEASE===
Committee on Resource, US House of Representative
For Immediate Release
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Contact Brian Kennedy or Matt Streit at (202) 226-9019
Recreation Fee Demonstration Bill Passes
Washington, DC - Today the Congress passed H.R. 3283, the Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act, introduced by Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH). The bill
will improve recreational facilities and visitor opportunities on federal
recreational lands by reinvesting receipts from fair and consistent
recreational fees and passes.
"This legislation ensures continued access to recreational opportunites on
our federal land while protecting the public's pocketbook," said House
Committee on Resources Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA). "We have given
federal land managers the ability to assess reasonable fees for specific
activities and uses. This bill will put an end to fears that fees will be
misused by federal land managers since we have laid out very specific
circumstances under which these fees can be collected and subsequently
reinvested."
The Recreational Fee Demonstration Program (Rec Fee Demo) was originally
proposed in 1996 as a tool to generate needed revenue to manage the growing
occurrence of recreation on public land. The program has been both praised
and assailed by federal land users. Since its inception, federal land
managers have been able to actively reinvest fees assessed into the site or
activities used.
After numerous concerns and reauthorizations, the House Resources Committee,
the committee with authorizing jurisdiction, undertook reauthorizing the Rec
Fee Program. Rep. Regula's bill will extend the program for 10 years and
specifically states where and what a fee may and may not be charged for,
while also establishing types of fees.
The bill also incorporates public participation by establishing Recreation
Advisory Committees that will consist of members of the local government and
recreation community. This group will provide recommendations to the
Secretary of the Interior regarding the establishment, elimination, or
adjustment of a fee. Additionally, a Federal Lands Pass will be established
for all entrance and amenity fees for federal lands.
--- end ---
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Scott Silver
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Ave.
Bend, OR 97701
phone: 541-385-5261
e-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org
Internet: http://www.wildwilderness.org
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Our hopes had been blasted, and the shadow of
deep disappointment settled upon us. We had no
alternative except prepare for direct action,
whereby we would present our very bodies as a
means of laying our cases before the conscience of
the local, national, (and the international)
community. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
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Jeepasaurusrex
Member
Joined: 05 Oct 2004
Posts: 1079 | TRs | Pics
Location: Arlington, WA |
I still dont understand it.. pay for something with your taxes.. and have to pay again to use it? 
"I would like to see things from your point of view, but I cannot get my head that far up my butt"
"I would like to see things from your point of view, but I cannot get my head that far up my butt"
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Malachai Constant
Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 16093 | TRs | Pics
Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
You guys really don't get it do you. The election is over. The good times and good things were just hyped to keep the ins in. The government is facing a massive deficit so they have to snag every buck they can, even better if rom a bunch of greenie hikers. Interest rates will be going up soon according to Greenspan. 
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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polarbear
Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
Fee demo was started in 1996, so I don't think it has alot to do with the recent election. The continual extension of the program is a good example of taxation with very poor representation.
| Quote: | | Rep. Regula's bill will extend the program for 10 years and
specifically states where and what a fee may and may not be charged for,
while also establishing types of fees. |
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Malachai Constant
Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 16093 | TRs | Pics
Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
| polarbear wrote: | Fee demo was started in 1996, so I don't think it has alot to do with the recent election. The continual extension of the program is a good example of taxation with very poor representation.
| Quote: | | Rep. Regula's bill will extend the program for 10 years and
specifically states where and what a fee may and may not be charged for,
while also establishing types of fees. |
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I agree that FD has nothing to do with the election but politicians posturing about doing away with it just before has everything to do with it. 
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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polarbear
Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away |
| Quote: | | Failure to pay the fees will be a criminal offense, punishable by up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail. Drivers, owners and occupants of vehicles not displaying a daily or annual pass will be presumed guilty of failure to pay and can all be charged, without government obligation to prove their guilt, Funkhouser said. The measure also encourages agencies to contract with private firms and other non-governmental entities to manage public lands and enforce fee collection.
The bill also establishes a national, interagency annual pass called the “America the Beautiful” pass, expected to cost $85 to $100 annually. |
link
The camel is in the tent. 
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kleet
meat tornado
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 5303 | TRs | Pics
Location: O no they dih ent |
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kleet
meat tornado
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Tue Nov 23, 2004 8:50 am |
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| polarbear wrote: | | The measure also encourages agencies to contract with private firms and other non-governmental entities to manage public lands and enforce fee collection. |
Great...Bruno's Towing is now collecting fees and/or cracking skulls at a trailhead near you! 
A fuxk, why do I not give one?
A fuxk, why do I not give one?
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