On the recordMarch 13, 2014
I thank Mr. Polis for yielding. I must say that, again, I must direct attention to the fact that the February 11 letter from the ski resorts focuses on narrowing the bill, not the bill in total, but narrow focus. Mr. Polis joined Mr. Tipton on this bill in an attempt to seek a reasonable solution to the problem facing ski resorts in the West, but when Mr. Polis tried to work with the majority and when we on the committee tried to work with the majority to make reasonable, responsible changes to the bill, we were told no. We were told the majority wanted a big, broad bill that goes way beyond the resorts and way beyond the Forest Service. We pointed out that when you start drafting big, broad bills that go beyond the original issue, you will have unintended consequences, but they would not listen. Mr. Polis' amendment is the last chance to make this a narrow, bipartisan bill that can actually pass, and we should adopt it. Again, we don't want a job killing. We don't want a water grab. We don't want specific people to favor. I think the people need to understand it is the farmers and ranchers who benefit. The six savings clauses the bill needs is not needed. It is in the Polis amendment because the amendment narrows the scope only to ski resorts and National Forest Service.
