Election still results in support seen for southeast Colorado

Even while we are losing a committed fighter of no expansion and supporter of rural values in John Salazar we have maintained other elected positions, and have even gained others as we fight for our rights.

We have kept many that have fought valiantly and will continue to do so and gained some in other areas ...... and will continue to get support as newly elected officials become more aware of the real dangers and loss to this Country if any expansion is allowed.

Newly elected Las Animas County Commissioner Mack Louden will continue the fight...

State Rep Wes McKinley will continue the fight...

State Rep Sal Pace will continue the fight...

Newly elected State Senator Kevin Grantham has vowed to continue the fight....

Newly elected Governor elect Hickenlooper is standing with us......(his statement below)
Protecting Colorado's Ranchers: A Position on Pinon Canyon: As most ranchers and livestock operators in Colorado know, there is a great deal of concern about the Army's plans to expand the boundaries of Fort Carson's training facilities at Pinon Canyon in southern Colorado. It is not enough to oppose the use of eminent domain (condemnation) at Pinon Canyon. In an already fragile economy, it is not fair to add more pressure to landowners in the area. That is why we support the state legislative ban on the lease or transfer of state lands for expansion, why we support the Congressional moratorium on expansion activities and why we are opposed to the additional loss of productive land in agriculture and livestock production that would follow from Army expansion. It is important for the communities most impacted by the Army's planned expansion in Southern Colorado to have the ultimate say in whether they would agree to any expansion proposal. It has been clear to us that so far, communities in Southern Colorado are adamantly opposed to the loss of this land (even through leasing) and we believe Colorado's next Governor must stand with them.

Senator Kester has proven track record stopping Pinon Canyon expansion.

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition gives State Senator Ken Kester an A+ rating

PCEOC gives Senator Ken Kester, District 2, an A+ rating for his efforts to stop the Pinon Canyon expansion.  He is a legislator that has put his legislative efforts where his mouth is to keep Pinon Canyon from expanding.  

Ken, along with Wes McKinley authored and co-sponsored two separate bills in the past 4 years specifically designed to stop the expansion from the state level.  He was successful in getting legislation passed that withdrew automatic approval of the use of eminent domain by the Feds and now requires them to come before the State Legislature for permission to do so.

He also co-sponsored legislation with Rep Sal Pace and Representative McKinley that prohibits the State of Colorado from selling or leasing any State owned lands for the purpose of expanding the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. 

The future of southeastern Colorado hangs in the balance – we survive if Pinon Canyon isn’t expanded – we are eliminated if it does.

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition gives McKinley A+

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition gives State Representative Wes McKinley an A+ rating

PCEOC gives Rep Wes McKinley, District 64, an A+ rating for his efforts to stop the Pinon Canyon expansion.  He is a candidate that has put his legislative efforts where his mouth is to keep Pinon Canyon from expanding.  

Wes has authored and co-sponsored two separate bills in the past 4 years specifically designed to stop the expansion from the state level.  He was successful in getting legislation passed that withdrew automatic approval of the use of eminent domain by the Feds and now requires them to come before the State Legislature for permission to do so.

He also co-sponsored legislation with Rep Sal Pace and Senator Ken Kester that prohibits the State of Colorado from selling or leasing any State owned lands for the purpose of expanding the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. 

Wes McKinley thus has a proven track record on stopping the Pinon Canyon expansion. 

The future of southeastern Colorado hangs in the balance – we survive if Pinon Canyon isn’t expanded – we are eliminated if it does.  That includes almost all of District 64 that Representative McKinley represents.

Betsy Markey earns A rating for legislating against expansion

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition gives Congresswoman Betsy Markey an A rating

PCEOC has given Betsy Markey an A rating for her efforts to stop the Pinon Canyon expansion.  She is a candidate that has put her congressional votes and legislative efforts where her mouth is to keep Pinon Canyon from expanding.  

Betsy Markey co-sponsored and pushed for legislation that included the ban on funding for any expansion of Pinon Canyon.  She thus has a proven track record on stopping the Pinon Canyon expansion.  The only thing that keeps the expansion from happening at this point is the congressional funding ban that Congressman John Salazar and Betsy Markey have worked to get renewed each year. 

The future of southeastern Colorado hangs in the balance – we survive if Pinon Canyon isn’t expanded – we are eliminated if it does.  That includes a large part of the 4th Congressional District that Congresswoman Markey represents.

John Salazar earns an A+

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition gives Congressman John Salazar an A+ rating

John Salazar has earned an A+ rating from the PCEOC for his efforts to stop the Pinon Canyon expansion.  He is a candidate that has put his congressional votes and legislative efforts where his mouth is to keep Pinon Canyon from expanding.  He has a proven four year track record no one else has on stopping the Pinon Canyon expansion.

The future of southeastern Colorado hangs in the balance – we survive if Pinon Canyon isn’t expanded – we are eliminated if it does.  The issue has a great many manifestations in property rights, citizens rights, conservation, national defense, community planning, historical preservation, economics, and ethics. 

The only thing that keeps the expansion from happening at this point is the congressional funding ban that originates in the Committee on Military Affairs.  John Salazar worked to get on the Military Affairs Committee and is in a key position to renew the funding ban each year.  If Colorado loses Congressman Salazar’s position on that committee we are concerned the funding ban will not be renewed allowing the expansion to go forward.

Voting FOR John Salazar is a definite vote AGAINST the Pinon Canyon expansion.  

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USAF Flyover public scoping comment meeting next Tuesday in Pueblo

We hope many can join us in attending the scoping/comment meeting next Tuesday, the 19th, at the 6-8pm, Central HS, 216 E. Orman Ave., Pueblo.

We need to assure we make everyone aware of the concerns we all have relative to the onslaught of DoD efforts to remove us from our property.

The USAF proposed low level flyovers at such low altitudes would certainly disrupt and impede activities on the land surface. An example of that is the fact that the military is currently fighting the creation of wind farms because they interfer with their training activities. There is a conflict between the individual property rights and the rights of the military to conduct training.

Military training at 200 feet has a direct impact upon the land beneath it and should be considered as part of that property.  Just one more way to invoke inverse condemnation - they don't have to take it directly if they devalue its use it to the point it forces everyone to leave.

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