Tuesday
May192009
National Parks and Wildlife May Be Endangered Under Coburn
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6:05PM
By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), chairman of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee, complained this afternoon at a news conference about the “highjacking” of the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights Act by a rider sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK). This rider would allow individuals to carry weapons such as shotguns, AK-47, and rifles into national parks in concordance with state laws.
The rider is an additional provision annexed to the Credit CardHolder’s Bill of Rights Act bu Senator Coburn. Controversial riders are often attached to a bill in order to prevent it from being passed.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) also took part in the news conference held this afternoon and claimed the rider would be “detrimental to a hundred years of policy for national lands” such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Gettysburg.
The three Representatives sought the support of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and President Barack Obama in order to defend the National Park Rangers who are at risk with this rider. They pointed out that the atmosphere into which families and wildlife intermingled will no longer be the same if individuals are allowed to carry weapons.
To back up the Representative’s complaints, two retired Park Rangers were present and stressed that “parks are for families, not guns.” They added that politicians “should not deter about the specialness and uniqueness” of National Parks and that if the Coburn riber should pass, they would not feel safe to send their own kids.
Grijalva said that the “National Rifle Association is taking over both House and Senate” which McCarthy and Maloney agreed. They added that the news conference was a way for American people to put pressure on their local politicians to oppose the bill. They said it will be a very difficult vote in Congress which is supposed to hit the floor either tomorrow or Thursday.
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), chairman of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee, complained this afternoon at a news conference about the “highjacking” of the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights Act by a rider sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK). This rider would allow individuals to carry weapons such as shotguns, AK-47, and rifles into national parks in concordance with state laws.
The rider is an additional provision annexed to the Credit CardHolder’s Bill of Rights Act bu Senator Coburn. Controversial riders are often attached to a bill in order to prevent it from being passed.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) also took part in the news conference held this afternoon and claimed the rider would be “detrimental to a hundred years of policy for national lands” such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Gettysburg.
The three Representatives sought the support of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and President Barack Obama in order to defend the National Park Rangers who are at risk with this rider. They pointed out that the atmosphere into which families and wildlife intermingled will no longer be the same if individuals are allowed to carry weapons.
To back up the Representative’s complaints, two retired Park Rangers were present and stressed that “parks are for families, not guns.” They added that politicians “should not deter about the specialness and uniqueness” of National Parks and that if the Coburn riber should pass, they would not feel safe to send their own kids.
Grijalva said that the “National Rifle Association is taking over both House and Senate” which McCarthy and Maloney agreed. They added that the news conference was a way for American people to put pressure on their local politicians to oppose the bill. They said it will be a very difficult vote in Congress which is supposed to hit the floor either tomorrow or Thursday.
Arizona Rep. Rallies Against Climate Of Fear Facing Latinos
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) delivered the keynote closing address of Hispanic Month at the Library of Congress Tuesday where he attacked the harsh tone the immigration debate has taken.
Grijalva said the “irrational fear” being targeted on Latino immigrants has led to a general fear of “those with perceived differences” such as language difference, skin color, culture or national origin. He believes these fears are the origin for an English-only movement in U.S. schools, a larger number of hate crimes against immigrants and a vigilante border situation.
“The fear and the hatred being generated against immigrants has a direct impact on all Latinos,” Grijalva warned.
Grijalva added, “when you hear the Glenn Becks and Lou Dobbs of the world ... they’re building an America that so obviously has no room for tolerance for many other Americans.” He noted, “its a movement based on denial...it’s a movement based on exclusion.”
Grijalva also said the foundation of this immigration movement is education.
“I think that education continues to be the cornerstone, and that’s where the largest investment has to go”, Grijalva said.
The Arizona Democrat says he believes the successful future of the Latino community depends on legislators providing more educational opportunities.
“We have a responsibility to make sure the education system is responsive to all children”, Grijalva said.