The temporary ban to keep funds from being used to expand the Pinon Canyon maneuver site has been extended for one more year.....
Thanks again to our 'hero' Rep John Salazar for getting the ban attached to the House version of the Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY10 and for the support of Rep Markey, Senators Udall and Bennet to get it secured in Conference committee. The Omnibus Appropriations Act will be voted on by the House and the Senate before years end.
We trust those that have supported us so well will continue to push the permanent ban that is so desperately needed and for John Salazar to receive the colleague support necessary to put that in place (that was missing earlier this year).
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Friday, December 11, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
McInnis says 'do no harm' principle 'key' yet his actions say otherwise
Well, it seems hypocrisy is one of the key components for Mr. McInnis to run for office.
He recently stated "There are some general criteria or general principles I think you have to have in your vision. Number one;do no harm... Don't do harm to industry that's so important to Colorado; for example, the natural gas industry."
He apparently doesn't consider agriculture as an 'industry' deserving of his 'do no harm' principle.
He recently stated "There are some general criteria or general principles I think you have to have in your vision. Number one;
He apparently doesn't consider agriculture as an 'industry' deserving of his 'do no harm' principle.
He criticizes Gov Ritter for doing harm to the energy and military sectors while he proposes doing harm to Colorado's second largest economic contributor, agriculture. That's right - second largest economic contributor. And the 6.9 million acre area targeted for expansion by the Army (that's more than 10,000 square miles) produces food for almost a million people.
Does this sound like he is 'sticking to his principles' when he advocates for the Pinon Canyon expansion that will result in the loss of a quarter of the states second largest industry; along with more than 17,000 people; along with food production for a million people? That's 'doing no harm'?
Can't say we agree with McInnis' obvious idea that our part of the Colorado economy is expendable - along with all of us.
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Friday, December 4, 2009
A Senate candidate that will stand up with our US Reps for a permanent ban?
Apparently so! Former Representative and Colorado Speaker of the House, Andrew Romanoff has the gumption to do what is right and has taken the strongest position against the expansion of Pinon Canyon of anyone in Colorado running for US Senate, or anyone currently acting as US Senator for that matter.
Our US Representative John Salazar, joined by US Rep Betsy Markey have been steadfast in their position against expansion, yet a recent attempt by Congressman John Salazar to get a permanent ban in place failed apparently largely because it was not supported by our Senators Udall and Bennet.
Considering that we are constantly working to get people in office that represent their constituents, and are willing to say that up front we believe that everyone should consider that alone is deserving of our support in the form of votes.
No matter what the affiliation if a candidate is against expansion and willing to put a permanent ban in place then he/she should get our no expansion votes. Conversely if any candidate is working to push the expansion agenda we believe we should work to keep him/her out of office to protect our rights.
Here's today's Chieftain article on Mr. Romanoff:
Our US Representative John Salazar, joined by US Rep Betsy Markey have been steadfast in their position against expansion, yet a recent attempt by Congressman John Salazar to get a permanent ban in place failed apparently largely because it was not supported by our Senators Udall and Bennet.
Considering that we are constantly working to get people in office that represent their constituents, and are willing to say that up front we believe that everyone should consider that alone is deserving of our support in the form of votes.
No matter what the affiliation if a candidate is against expansion and willing to put a permanent ban in place then he/she should get our no expansion votes. Conversely if any candidate is working to push the expansion agenda we believe we should work to keep him/her out of office to protect our rights.
Here's today's Chieftain article on Mr. Romanoff:
Friday, December 04, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Lawmakers seek to extend Pinon Canyon ban
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Request calls for no spending extension through 2010.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER - Four members of Colorado’s congressional delegation are asking lawmakers to extend a ban on spending money to expand the Army’s Pinon Canyon training site.
Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet and Reps. John Salazar and Betsy Markey asked a House-Senate conference committee on Tuesday to renew the ban through September 2010.
The four Democrats cite unanswered questions about the need.
"In the three years since the Army first proposed expansion of Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, there has been continual concern about whether or not there is a need for more land beyond the 244,000 acres it already has. Therefore, this moratorium, which the subcommittee has supported before, must continue to remain in place," the lawmakers wrote in their letter to both the House and Senate appropriation committees and military construction and Veterans Affairs subcommittees.
The current ban expires Dec. 18. It’s been in place since 2007.
The Army wants to expand the site from 238,000 acres, or 370 square miles, to 338,000 acres, or 525 square miles. Commanders say they need the space for new weapons and tactics and additional soldiers.
Ranchers fear the loss of so much agricultural land and say the Army hasn’t demonstrated the need for it.
Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet and Reps. John Salazar and Betsy Markey asked a House-Senate conference committee on Tuesday to renew the ban through September 2010.
The four Democrats cite unanswered questions about the need.
"In the three years since the Army first proposed expansion of Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, there has been continual concern about whether or not there is a need for more land beyond the 244,000 acres it already has. Therefore, this moratorium, which the subcommittee has supported before, must continue to remain in place," the lawmakers wrote in their letter to both the House and Senate appropriation committees and military construction and Veterans Affairs subcommittees.
The current ban expires Dec. 18. It’s been in place since 2007.
The Army wants to expand the site from 238,000 acres, or 370 square miles, to 338,000 acres, or 525 square miles. Commanders say they need the space for new weapons and tactics and additional soldiers.
Ranchers fear the loss of so much agricultural land and say the Army hasn’t demonstrated the need for it.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
McInnis: Pseudo-conservative?
According to the Colorado Office of Economic Development agriculture is Colorado’s second leading industry, and Southeastern Colorado alone feeds nearly a million people.
Keeping business and protecting property rights along with protecting our food supplies should be a conservative principle - don't you think?
Not so for Scott McInnis’s position on the Pinon Canyon expansion and his 'contract with Colorado' (but now he's calling it the Republican 'Platform for Prosperity'). With the failure of the Republican Platform to reverse the view that the elimination of 10,000 square miles of private property is somehow 'OK', how can anyone support him or for that matter the Republican party?
Scott McInnis' 'Platform for Prosperity' denies the opportunity for any kind of survival let alone prosperity for for all of southeast Colorado - supporting the expansion denies southeastern Colorado residents the constitutional right of private property ownership and burdens the entire state with the resultant job losses that will occur when the production of food for almost a million people is eliminated along with the elimination of more than 17,000 people (the Army's own figures).
Conservative? Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Keeping business and protecting property rights along with protecting our food supplies should be a conservative principle - don't you think?
Not so for Scott McInnis’s position on the Pinon Canyon expansion and his 'contract with Colorado' (but now he's calling it the Republican 'Platform for Prosperity'). With the failure of the Republican Platform to reverse the view that the elimination of 10,000 square miles of private property is somehow 'OK', how can anyone support him or for that matter the Republican party?
Scott McInnis' 'Platform for Prosperity' denies the opportunity for any kind of survival let alone prosperity for for all of southeast Colorado - supporting the expansion denies southeastern Colorado residents the constitutional right of private property ownership and burdens the entire state with the resultant job losses that will occur when the production of food for almost a million people is eliminated along with the elimination of more than 17,000 people (the Army's own figures).
Conservative? Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Bennet: Pinon Canyon moratorium extension likely
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Michael Bennet
Neither Bennet nor Sen. Mark Udall included the funding ban in the Senate bill, however.
By PETER ROPER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Congress will extend the annual funding ban on the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site through 2010, Sen. Michael Bennet predicted Friday.
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