03 Jan Senate Betrays YOU! Passes “Son of CARA” in the Dark of Night
January 3, 2002
On December 20th, the final day of the 2001 session of Congress, the Senate pulled-off the most underhanded move of the year. In the dark of night, the Senate passed S. 990 (American Wildlife Enhancement Act), also known as “Son of CARA” because it’s a $600 million per year land grab bill. Though much smaller than CARA, S. 990 is still a property-snatching, pork-barrel land grab.
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) brought S. 990 to the floor of a nearly empty Senate chamber. Reid asked for “Unanimous Consent” that the bill be approved on the spot, with no debate, no amendments and no recorded vote.
ALL Senators had been notified just a few days before that Reid would make a Unanimous Consent request—and NONE, not even one Senator, stuck around to defend private property rights! If even ONE, just ONE Senator had objected, then consideration of S. 990 would have been put off for several weeks allowing for amendments and debate.
THIS WAS A SLIMY, UNDERHANDED, DESPICABLE MOVE BY THE SENATE. They knew the public didn’t want this bill, so they snuck it through with a shady, backroom maneuver.
WE CAN STILL STOP S. 990!
S. 990 must still be passed by the House of Representatives before it can become law. PLEASE read the “action to take” below. We must let Congress know that we won’t stand for land grabs—ESPECIALLY land grabs passed in such an underhanded fashion!
**Action to Take**
1. Call and write your Representative. Tell him or her to vote against American Wildlife Enhancement Act. Explain that government already owns more than half of the United States and doesn’t need any more money for acquiring private land. Your Representative will be in your area until Congress reconvenes on January 23rd. Try contacting him or her at their local district office. You may write your Representative at: Honorable (Name), United States House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515. Also, call your Representative’s Capitol Hill office using the House Switchboard: (202) 225-3121.
2. Call and write both of your Senators. Let them know that you don’t appreciate such slimy, shady politics. Call your Senators at their local district offices. Write them at: “Honorable” (Name), United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. Also, flood their Capitol Hill offices with phone calls. These low-down, dirty weasels should know that we’re not going to stand for such slimy tactics! Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
3. Click here to send this Action Alert to up to ten of your friends.
***PLEASE SEND TO AT LEAST FIVE MORE PEOPLE***