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.
GOP Senators: Let’s Start Over On Health Care
Republican Senators reiterated Wednesday their desire to let the public to see the health care bill before Congress considers passing it, adding that if a bipartisan bill couldn’t be created that included the key elements of their proposals such as cutting costs and coverage for everyone, they should just start over.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) argued that attempting to pass a health care bill before the August recess creates a “false deadline.”
“My recommendation to the President is to back off on that [deadline]. He’s going to find plenty of us to work with on a common sense proposal,” said Coburn. “Back off...and take us at our word that we truly want to work to solve this problem and I think that’s reflective of the vast majority of our conference.”
Coburn was joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to discuss the Republican health care agenda. Both Coburn and Barrasso are the Senate’s only two doctors.
Barrasso said physicians know we need health care reform. He also noted that we must get the costs under control and improve patient care.
“We’re here as two doctors to say we want to make this system better for all Americans,” said Barraso.
Coburn highlighted the need for Republicans to continue working and not slow down or lose focus as they continually push for their proposals to be seriously considered.