Far from satisfied with last year’s turn of events which saw their beloved pork-barrel behemoth shredded to resemble little more than a Vienna sausage, Reps. Don Young (R-AK), John Dingel (D-MI) and "Slick Billy" Tauzin (R-LA) are already drumming up renewed support for the land-grabbing, federal trust fund known as the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA).

After a long, hard battle last year, property rights advocates prevailed against CARA by passing a compromise bill that was far less destructive than CARA itself. Rep. Young’s original version of CARA called for a $45 billion dollar, 15-year trust fund ($3 billion dollars, guaranteed every year for 15 years)—much of which would be used to fund federal land grabs. The "CARA Lite" bill, which was passed last year, calls for 12 billion over six years, and NO trust fund (the $2 billion would have to pass the appropriations process each year). While much smaller, "CARA Lite" is still an inexcusable increase in funding for federal land grabs.

Now, barely one month into Bush’s presidency, Reps. Young and Dingel have written a letter to President Bush, urging him to "move our nation’s conservation legacy forward." Rep. Young said "CARA would be an excellent opportunity to pass a significant bipartisan bill during the first 100 days of the new Bush administration." Young, Dingel and Tauzin want their $45 billion barrel of pork. "CARA Lite" only whetted their appetites.

Property rights advocates must remain vigilant. A likely tug-o-war over Bush’s land policy directives will take place over the next four years. The Bush administration must know that patriotic Americans will not tolerate CARA! NO CARA LAND GRAB!

1. Call the White House and let President Bush know that American citizens will not stand for the CARA land grab. White House phone number: (202) 456-1414 Fax: (202) 456-2461.

For all those who thought that the election of President Bush was the solution to America’s property rights problems: Think again.

It appears that the Bush administration is unwilling to do the right thing by overturning Clinton’s eleventh hour national monument designations, which shut Americans out of millions of acres of public land and will destroy local industries and communities. Interior Secretary, Gale Norton, has declared that the Bush administration will not seek to overturn ANY of Clinton’s monument designations. Instead, Norton said that the Interior Department and Congress could work with local officials and property owners out West to address their concerns. Helping to pour salt in the wounds, Chairman of the Resources Committee, Rep. James Hanson (R-UT) said: "No one is going to see a wholesale rolling back of these monuments, but we will help Members draft legislation to redraw boundaries or alter management plans." In other words: Clinton uses his pen to steal the land and Bush uses his administration to make it all seem routine.

Surely this is a great comfort to the miners who have been laid off and the property owners who must sell their land.

Worse still, there are many organizations who fancy themselves a part of the "property rights movement" who are also throwing in the towel on the Clinton monuments.

The bottom line is: CONGRESS HAS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO OVERTURN THESE MONUMENTS. And given the dictatorial fashion in which the monuments were created, Congress has the OBLIGATION to overturn these monuments.

If you agree that it is imperative that Congress do something, read the "Action to Take" below.

If you disagree, remain silent with the millions of other Americans who have lost their land rights because they didn’t think it could happen to them.

1. Call Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Rep. James Hanson, and urge him to draft legislation to roll back the Clinton monuments. Rep. Hanson: Phone (202) 225-0453 Fax (202) 225-5857.

2. Call your Congressman and urge him to draft legislation to roll back the Clinton monuments. Capitol Hill Switchboard: (202) 225-3121.