Greg Ganske: “let us put into perspective what seems to be one of the most contentious parts of the Interior appropriations bill…”

“let us put into perspective what seems to be one of the most contentious parts of the Interior appropriations bill, harvesting part of the Alaska Tongass Forest. If this table represented Alaska, the Tongass Forest would represent a postage stamp. The area that we are talking about for harvesting would represent the size of a pinhead. Is this what the President and the Democratic Members of this body are willing to close down the Government about? I lived in the Pacific Northwest for a number of years. There should be balance in weighing the benefits of logging versus the environment. This bill makes reasonable compromises in the use of this forest, and I respect Members such as the gentleman from New York [Mr. Boehlert] and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], who are strong environmentalists and who support this bill. We should vote to override this veto. Mr. Speaker, I want to respond to some of the rhetoric that has been on the floor this morning. The President's veto has more to do with politics than with the substance of this bill. Now in the 20th day of current partial Government shutdown, the reason the national parks are closed is the direct result of bad faith bargaining by President Clinton. This ought to be crystal clear to all of the furloughed Government workers who are affected by this bill.”