Political Quotes

“I rise to join my colleague, the senior Senator from Wyoming, Malcolm Wallop, in opposition to this bill. I share my colleagues strong concerns about the provisions that force concessionaires to forfeit their private property rights. That, in my view, is an unconstitutional taking of private property. I do not believe for an instant that the rather convoluted formula for depreciation and purchase of the private property is just compensation as that phrase is used in the constitution. Just means fair and equitable. There is nothing just in accelerating a depreciation schedule over 10 years for some improvements that range in the millions of dollars. If the Senate passes this legislation, we will be directing the Department of Interior to do nothing less than confiscate the private property of concessionaires who have done nothing wrong. Indeed, the concessionaires currently doing business in Wyoming National Parks are doing a fine job and providing a needed--and much appreciated--service to the public. I am at a loss to understand why this provision is being supported by the administration. It is a puzzling thing. I can very easily understand why the Park Service wants to get its hands on the revenues from concessionaires. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand why the Park Service wants to keep that money, rather than turn it over to the Treasury. I hunch that they would like to keep it 'off budget' also.”