September 6, 2001 Volume 4, Issue 7

The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 701), otherwise known as “CARA,” passed the House Resources Committee on July 25 of this year. Now that CARA has passed the Resources Committee, a huge drive, led by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Billy Tauzin (R-LA), is ensuing to force a floor vote and make the $47 billion land grab trust fund a reality. CARA is moving fast and now has the muscle to possibly avoid a repeat of last year’s defeat. The greatest hope that property rights advocates, conservatives, and stalwart Republicans have of stopping this nightmare may now lie with the man sitting in the oval office, who promised his loyal constituents during last year’s campaign that “help is on the way.”

CARA is a $47 billion dollar, 15-year trust fund that will spend millions of dollars annually to grab land and restrict public access. Ranches, farms, mines, pastures and private estates would instantly become vulnerable to the whims of envirocrats, seeking to expand the property holdings of the government. Private property will be condemned and former owners will be forced to relocate. Those who care for and manage their property best will be most susceptible to confiscation, as typically the government seeks to acquire land of the highest value with the “most wildlife potential.” Private land that borders existing federal and state parks and monuments would also be highly targeted. Think of these public lands as a cancer, ever-spreading and swallowing private property in their path.

Aside from the tyrannical nature of this policy, President Bush should be personally concerned. Here’s why:

- Property owners, ranchers, farmers, loggers and miners are the very people that comprise the sea of red found on the famous “Bush Country” Election 2000 map—and they HATE CARA. They are the ones who will be most affected by the rolling land grabs that will surely take place if CARA becomes law. And it is these people who will sit at home on Election Day 2004, lamenting another Republican president who was all talk and no action. President Bush cannot expect to have their support should he decide to take them for granted and sell out their property rights.

- Hunters, fishermen and other recreational users of wilderness also turned out in droves to elect President Bush this past November. They too would suffer greatly under CARA. As government acquires more and more private land, that land is placed under the jurisdiction of government agencies that are increasingly hostile to hunting, fishing and human access in general. Again, President Bush would be bucking a core constituency and turning his back on those who elected him.

- CARA, most certainly, will add to the current maintenance backlog in federal land management agencies by placing more land in the hands of bureaucracies that have proven inept at caring for it. Just look at the highly preventable forest fires that ravished much of the nation last year.

- Perhaps most overlooked is the political trap that CARA lays for President Bush and the Republican Party. In short, CARA is political gold for Democrats, and they know it. The President has come under increased fire from lawmakers on the left who say that his $1.35 trillion tax cut was “irresponsible,” “too costly,” and would “threaten the balanced budget.”

Now, with recent surplus projections lower than originally anticipated, the Democrats have stepped up their rhetoric and appear ready to do anything in their power to pin an “unbalanced budget” on George W.’s back. CARA would aid them enormously. At $47 billion over 15 years, CARA is a trust fund and does not have to pass annual appropriations. The money is guaranteed once CARA becomes law. The last thing Bush’s budget needs is a $3 billion per year, pork barrel, land acquisition bill to tip the fiscal scales out of his favor. This will give Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle even more fodder and excuse to rail against him for being “fiscally irresponsible.” More importantly, funds from CARA go to government agencies that work closely with, and often contract with extreme environmental groups. In essence, CARA funds the same radicals that work tirelessly to destroy Republican candidates—the same leftists that will inevitably fight tooth-and-nail to dethrone Bush in 2004.

President Bush must recognize this political-disaster-waiting-to-happen before it’s too late. By simply using his bully pulpit, and urging House leaders to stand firm against CARA, The President can remain true to his core constituency and his sworn promise to “uphold the Constitution of the United States.” Most importantly, he can thwart the biggest threat to American property rights in recent memory. Should Bush do nothing, and CARA pass under his watch, his most loyal and ardent supporters will be left with a 15-year, $47 billion reminder that help was not on the way.

**Action To Take**

1. Call President Bush and ask him to do everything in his power to STOP THE CARA LAND GRAB! Explain that as President, it is his duty to protect Americans’ constitutional right to private property. President Bush will only take action if we make him feel the heat. White House Switchboard: (202) 456-1414. Fax: (202) 456-2461.

2. Call your Representative and both of your Senators and urge them to stand firm against CARA. Capitol Hill House Switchboard: (202) 225-3121. Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

3. Click here:  to send this urgent Action Alert to up to ten of your friends.