🚀 go-pugleaf

TO:       All Forest Activists
FROM:     Jim Jontz & Steve Holmer
DATE:     May 1, 1996
 
SUBJECT:  TROUBLE ON CRAIG "FOREST HEALTH" BILL
 
     You would think Democrats would have learned from the
"Logging Without Laws" disaster, but incredibly, a situation over the
last few hours has developed which requires our immediate
attention.  Democrats in the Senate who should be saying "NO" to
the Craig "forest health" bill, are negotiating with Craig.
 
     The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee delayed
the scheduled markup of Sen. Larry Craig's Forest Health Bill, 
S. 391, until May 15.  The delay is to allow for continued
discussions between Sen. Craig, Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and
western Senators on a compromise forest health bill.  According to
Committee staff, Sen. Craig plans to mark-up the
Craig/Bradley/Daschle bill on the 15th in order to meet the Senate's
tight floor schedule, even if agreement on all issues has not been
reached.
 
     Staff for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) have apparently been sold
on the idea that "something" has to be done to restore forest
health.  Please contact Sen. Wyden at 202/224-5244 or 503/326-7525,
fax 228-2717 or 503/326-7528 and urge him to oppose misguided
forest legislation that will lead to more logging and roadbuilding in
Oregon.  Remind him that these are the real forest health problems
and that the recent devastating floods and landslides across the state
were a direct result of irresponsible clearcutting and roadbuilding. 
 
     Democratic Hill staff have stated that they will support no
compromise bill that will weaken environmental laws.  Despite this
assurance, activists need to send an emphatic message to the
Democratic Party Leadership and to key western Senators:
 
              RIDER REPEAL, NO FOREST HEALTH DEAL!
 
     Please contact the following Senators and urge them to
oppose any forest health legislation based on a bogus claim that
there is a forest health crisis that justifies taking the extreme
measures found in the logging rider and the Craig bill.  Urge them
to support repealing the rider, the only major rollback of
environmental laws still in effect from 1995:
 
Ron Wyden (D-OR) 202/228-2717 224-5244  Josh Schenkman
Max Baucus (D-MT) 202/228-3687     224-2651  Curt Rich
Tom Daschle (D-SD) 202/224-2047    224-2321  Eric Washburn
Patty Murray (D-WA) 202/224-0238   224-2621  Marla Marvin
Christopher Dodd (D-CT) 202/224-1083   224-2823   Sheila Duffy
Bill Bradley (D-NJ) 202/224-8567        224-3224       Ruth Fleischer
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 202/224-5902       224-4242       Brooks Preston
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 415/956-6701       224-3553       Linda Delgado