On the recordJuly 23, 2012
Again, I think we're seeing the complexity of this issue. I just want to follow up on the gentleman from Oregon's remarks, that the groups that have weighed in on this bill, from taxpayer groups on the conservative side, to professional managers, to more progressive environmental groups have weighed in against this bill. Under the previously agreed general leave request, I want to include letters and statements in opposition to S. 2039 from over 30 national and State organizations, including the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Taxpayers for Common Sense, the National Taxpayers Union, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, American Rivers, the National Wildlife Federation, the Nature Conservancy, and Republicans for Environmental Protection--not a list of groups you often see on the same page, Mr. Speaker. With that, I yield back the balance of my time. Taxpayers for Commonsense, R Street, National Taxpayers Union, July 23, 2012. Dear Representative: We are strongly opposed to S. 2039, a bill that is on the suspension calendar for a vote today. This bill would allow communities in North Dakota to construct levees on land that was so flood-prone that federal taxpayers bought out the property owners on the condition of no future development Construction of the levees will inevitably lead to more high risk development and future costs to taxpayers. In short, the taxpayer will be forced to pay twice or more.…
