Political Quotes

“My amendment would strike a harmful and politically driven provision on the underlying bill that has the effect of limiting stakeholder input and curbing equal access to justice, a core constitutional principle in our Republic, and effectively removes an important check we have on arbitrary actions by Presidents and administrations. Absent my language, the underlying bill would hand President Obama a blank slate in determining how we run our Western lands. My bill will restore that balance and allow civil society stakeholders and local residents to be able to challenge illegal Federal actions. While I respect and appreciate the impetus for many parts of this bill and support them, particularly those aimed at incentivizing collaborative development management plans and fixing the flawed funding structure for wildfire response--very, very important in my district--the provision that I am striking in my amendment is truly a poison pill for many on my side of the aisle who care deeply about equal access to justice and many on the other side of the aisle who don't want to hand President Obama an unchecked control over Federal lands. In districts like mine, which are made up of 62 percent Federal land, the Forest Service owns huge amounts of open space that we use, enjoy, is a driver of our tourism economy; we recreate as hikers, skiers, hunters, bikers; it is used commercially by loggers, utility providers, and many, many other groups.…”