Clean Water/Public Lands: Vital to Our Way of Life

A long life, every chance spent hunting and fishing all over the country and in several Canadian provinces, once seemed the perfect way to avoid being bogged down fretting over what seems to be of late a thundering herd of crooked, self-serving politicians. Bent on ripping the guts out of long-standing  laws and policies designed to protect and enhance continued public access to public lands, assurances for clean water,  wise management of wildlife and fish populations, anything to do with a protecting and enhancing the environment in general and whatever else stands in the way of lining greedy pockets.

What a foolish idea on my part, eh?

Under cover of March Madness, which has so many of us preoccupied Congress is wrangling how best to sneak in as many dirty riders as possible before a vote comes up on the must pass Spending Bill. Imagine! Currently there are an astounding 80 “anti-environmental” riders attached to the bill that attack our public lands, remove protections that mandate our rights to clean water and even the air we breathe and a whole lot more.

One that will have alarming results for not only us fisher folks but for anyone who likes the idea of taking a drink of water not falling ill (dead?) from some deadly pollutant is the quiet move to make it possible for EPA to repeal the Clean Waters Act without public or legal oversight.  Of course the key words here are “without public or legal oversight.” This despite an overwhelming majority citizens have voiced favorable support  of the CWA. In other words with a stroke of the pen the Administration can do any damn thing it wants.  Democracy? Not my definition...

Time is running out to demand a Clean Spending Bill—one free of shameful riders. Contact your legislators and tell them Hands Off!