Subject: White House Releases Rider Factsheet (fwd)
Date: Feb 29 11:20:57 1996
From: Dennis Paulson - dpaulson at ups.edu


>To: All forest activists
>From: Jim Jontz and Steve Holmer
>Date: February 28, 1996
>
>
>IT'S TIME TO ROCK THE WHITE HOUSE
>
>
>The attached "Timber Rider Fact Sheet" from the White House
>makes it clear: President Clinton has not made up his mind on
>repeal of the rider, and he needs to hear from us -- NOW.
>
>The message: Thank you, Mr. President, for speaking out for the
>environment. Only complete repeal of the Timber Clearcut Rider will
>protect our nation's old growth and native forests.
>
>You may want to customize this message for your state or area:
>Only complete repeal of the Timber Clearcut Rider will protect
>California's old growth and native forests (or wherever you're
>from!).
>
> The key numbers:
>
> White House public comment phone line: (202)456-1111,
>president at whitehouse.gov
> Leon Panetta message phone line: (202)456-6797
> The fax for Leon Panetta, White House Chief of staff:
> (202)456-2883
> The fax for Katie McGinty, CEQ: (202)456-2710
> The fax for Dan Glickman, Sec. of Agriculture: (202)720-2166
>
>As the "Fact Sheet" also points out, how the Members of Congress
>line up on full repeal will be a critical factor.
>
> If you are from Washington, Oregon, or California, it is
>particularly important that you call your Democratic Senators
>(Murray, Wyden, Boxer, and Feinstein) asking for total repeal. If
>you are from another state, call your Senators to ask them to
>cosponsor the Bradley/Boxer bill for complete repeal of the rider.
>
> Please also call your Representative asking him/her to
>cosponsor HR 2745, the Furse "rider repeal" bill. We have 117
>cosponsors but we must add more!
>
>This is the crunch time. It is critical that everyone respond by
>phoning/faxing these numbers Thursday and Friday. Our efforts
>today will make the difference in protecting forests for tomorrow.
>
> TIMBER RIDER FACT SHEET
> February 27, 1996
>
>"The timber rider, as it applies to old-growth forests,
>has...undermined our balanced approach to growing the economy,
>having responsible logging, and preserving the environment."
>
> President Clinton
> February 24, 1996
>
>The President is calling on Congress to act now on the timber rider.
>
>First, the old growth provisions must be repealed. We are losing
>ancient forests. We are losing valuable fish runs. Wild places that
>people in the Northwest and across America want to protect are
>being lost forever.
>
>Second, in addition to repeal, we need to be able to address a
>number of old growth sales the courts have already forced us to
>release. Therefore, the President is calling on Congress to give us
>broader flexibility in offering replacement timber, and for extreme
>cases, buyout authority.
>
>Third, we need to take a hard look at the salvage program. The
>salvage program has to be based on sound science. It has to meet
>environmental laws. The President directed the agencies to meet
>these standards; however, we have heard many concerns about the
>salvage program. We have to restore peoples' confidence and their
>ability to hold public officials accountable. To accomplish these
>goals, we will work with the Congressional delegation, industry,
>labor and environmental groups to review our options, including
>repeal.
>
>We're concerned that the prospect of new legislation might cause
>some companies that hold old growth sales contracts to mistakenly
>rush out and cut the trees. They don't need to do this. We will
>honor their contract rights. The President is calling on those
>companies to hold off on any more cutting until we find another
>way to honor their contract rights. And the Administration is
>asking the leaders of the timber industry to help us resolve this
>conflict.
>
>Senator Murray is working on this kind of legislation. The
>Administration will work with Senator Murray, Senator Wyden,
>Senator Bradley, Congressman Dicks, Congresswoman Furse, others
>in the Northwest delegation, the Governors and all the stakeholders
>to get forest management back on track and to restore the balanced
>and reasonable approach under my Northwest Forest Plan.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416