KEEP UP THE CALLS GOING INTO CONGRESS! Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202-224-2131) and ask to be connected to your lawmakers' offices. Or, Click on www.americanwilderness.org and send an email. Let Tecumseh Representatives know you are disappointed in them for voting to drill in the Arctic Refuge (see 11 Apr 03 update below).
Ted Strickland (OH06) Marcy Kaptur(OH09) Dennis Kucinich(OH10)
Stephanie Tubbs Jones(OH11) Sherrod Brown(OH13) Tim Ryan(OH17)
Disappointingly, NO TECUMSEH REPS ARE AMONG THESE SIX. We've known all along that the House was going to be the most uphill part of the battle. We still have the Senate voting twice in the past year and we have no doubt that they will do it again. Even Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) says he has no intention of bringing Arctic into the Senate energy bill. Don't give up heart because ultimately, we will put this issue to rest and the Arctic Refuge WILL be protected.
I will keep you updated on the next round of activities that will take place, which should be a conference committee to iron out the differences between the Senate and House energy bills. Thanks for all your hard work!
Wed 19 Mar 03 UPDATE: GOOD NEWS! Today a Senate vote to attach Arctic drilling as part of the budget process was soundly defeated 52-48. Thank you so, so much for all your efforts over the past couple of weeks. This couldn't have happened without your passion and determination. Thanks for all your calls and emails to our Senators. We will win this battle for permanent protection of the Refuge yet.
Fri 14 Feb 03 UPDATE: Omnibus Bill Passes Both Houses
Post-mortem Analysis by Director of the Alaska Coalition, Deborah Williams
>Last night Congress passed the FY2003 Appropriations bill. Here is my analysis: Senator Stevens and Congressman Don Young put 4 bullets (3 real bullets and one rubber bullet) in the conference bill/gun in order to do serious, irreversible damage to the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. We generated A LOT of press exposing this horrible threat, which raised the national profile of and importance of the Tongass as a great, American natural treasure. We also generated thousands of public calls and faxes to Congress through phone banking, e-mail alerts and other activities, which also raised the country's knowledge about and appreciation for Alaska's great temperate rainforests. All of this work has both short-term and long term benefits.
Because of the tremendous efforts of so many, the House took out the three real bullets (the roadless policy exclusion, etc.). Truly -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- removing the 3 horrific riders in a 48 hour time period against the wishes of Chairmen Stevens and Young in a Republican Congress on a must pass bill -- was an accomplishment of extraordinary proportions. The remaining rubber bullet stayed in, and passed, but fortunately it only stings; it should have no real on-the-ground impact (even though it does create a lousy bad-government precedent). And, of substantial importance, Steven suffered damage to himself and undercut his "absolute power" image in the process. He also "came unglued" on the floor of the Senate yesterday. This is very good for us in the long run. One of my favorite recent news summaries said:
Environment & Energy Daily -- Thursday, February 13, 2003
LEADING TODAY'S ISSUE:
STEVENS DROPS SEVERAL ALASKA RIDERS; FY '03 OMNIBUS HEADS TO FLOOR Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) backed down from his demands that the FY '03 omnibus conference report include a series of controversial environmental riders dealing with national forests in Alaska, clearing the way for the start of House floor debate on the massive bill as early as Thursday morning.
Get all the details online at: www.eedaily.com
This is good stuff. The Bush Administration should have also gotten the message that the public cares deeply about the Tongass and Chugach and wants these forests in the Roadless Policy, etc.
Thank you. Your support made this all possible. The staffs of the Alaska Rainforest Campaign, the Alaska Coalition, several national groups, and our grantees did unbelievable work. I don't think anyone slept more than a few hours during the first four days of this week; and the coordination was outstanding. And thanks to your support, ACF was able on Tuesday to dedicate and spend, immediately, over $100,000 for phone banking and media.
By the way, we did not suffer any damage with respect to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- some erroneous news stories to the contrary. The bill is entirely silent about the Refuge, and does not authorize anything. We are currently correcting the entirely wrong news stories on this. So, don't worry!
There is one last story I would like to share with you. Wednesday night, about 2 am, I was trying to think of a better phrase than "Legislative Riders" to describe these noxious abuses to our democratic process. Needless to say, "rider" is sorely non-descriptive and non-evocative. I came up with the new term "Legislative Leeches". At the 5:30 am organizing call on Thursday, I told about 50 folks (from virtually every environmental group, and almost all in DC) about my term -- there wasn't much of a reaction, so I thought -- "oh, well."
But words travel fast! Later that day, during the House debate on the Motion to Recommit, Congressmen Inslee stood up boldly to speak against the remaining Tongass rider and other riders -- but guess what he called them again and again "Leeches"! So, let's hope this new term "sticks". That's it for this week -- what a week. Happy Valentine's Day, and, once again, thank you for helping to save the world's greatest remaining temperate rainforest -- a very nice Valentine's present for future generations, indeed.
Deborah
For more information contact: Alaska Coalition, Forest Issues Director, Laurie Cooper
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