Groups fire away at forest thinning bill, criticize Baucus

[Feanorcurufinwe]

A U.S. Senate compromise bill to expedite forest thinning came under fire last week from critics, including nine groups from Montana.

The Senate as early as this week is expected to take up the wildfire measure, H.R. 1904, which supporters say addresses fire-prone forests and includes limits on lawsuits challenging such projects.

One-hundred-and-seventy-five conservation, public interest and religious groups are unhappy with the bill despite changes since the House version, they told Senate lawmakers in a letter.

They urged senators to oppose the bill, which they charged, among other things, interferes with the independent court system and environmental protections.

The letter also criticized Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who helped broker the deal on the Senate version of the bill. In announcing the compromise this month, Baucus said he joined with lawmakers from both parties to iron out controversial measures in the House version, a deal he said would help garner the 60 votes needed to help withstand any Senate filibuster. He called the agreement a common-sense compromise, and said the bill would reduce wildfire risks through forest fuels reduction projects while protecting the public’s right to participate and enabling the court system to remain independent and efficient.

The groups aren’t convinced.

“Not only will this bill set dangerous precedents by weakening environmental laws and judicial independence, it also fails to require agencies to prioritize protection of homes and communities,” the letter said. They said the tentative deal also won’t adequately protect old-growth trees but that it allows more logging in the backcountry.
http://www.montanaforum.com/rednews/2003/10/21/build/forests/baucusbill.php

It's tought sometimes being a Democrat and an environmentalist here in Montana.

[eileen_d]

1. Dammit, Baucus...

Why try to compromise on a bill that's so flawed to begin with? I know that all of the recent fires make the issue even tougher, but still...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Senator Baucus is a good man, quite liberal/progressive.....

as far as Montana goes! What gives with this??? This is not a compromise, it's a surrender!!!!!!!


:eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

3. What a shame!

I think "someone" told him that HE, TOO could get an antrax letter when he least expected it!

He's been admirable, so far. Seemed to stand heads and shoulders above other Montana politicians.

[eileen_d]

4. Yeah, IMO it's the damn fires.

They are frontpage news in Montana papers all summer. Also, thanks to some Republican congresspeople, wildfire funding got rejected in July 2003 right before Congress went on vacation. (I can't find the cite for that but I remember it - will keep looking)

I'm going to call his office and find out.