ACTION ALERT: HR1526 - Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act

[scout/sniper]

I agree with that.  I just don't think this bill is the avenue to that end. 

There are other ways to encourage the FS to do thier job

I agree. There needs to be a regulatory balance. I hate the "All or Nothing" approach to everything.

[WAcoyotehunter]

I don't what os going on Statewide, but in NE Washington the NE WA Forestry Coalition was pushing for 80m board ft to come off the Colville NF.  That number was sustainable based on the science and would be a HUGE increase in harvest.  Good for wildlife, good for the economy, good for the community.  Hopefully it will happen.

[huntrights]

Why is this necessary?  Did you read the bill?  It looks as though all NFS lands currently designated as commercial forest land, and capable of producing 20 Cu Ft of forest product (wood) per year would be included... that means essentially all of the NFS lands in NE Washington.

No thanks.

Why don't we just support NEWFC or some of the groups that are trying to get the FS to cut more trees???

http://capwiz.com/safariclubinternational/issues/alert/?alertid=62933431

"H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act needs your support to ensure its passage. This week the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on final passage of this bill. Once enacted, this bill will help protect our national forests from the rampant wildfires and insect infestations that have resulted from the lack of forest management. Healthy forests are managed forests and by freeing the Forest Service from the constant threat of lawsuits from radical environmentalists they can better manage millions of acres of federal forests.


Additionally, this bill would reduce long-term government debt by replacing direct federal payments to counties with royalties from timber harvest on federal lands. It is vital that sportsmen across the country stand up for our rural heritage and support the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act. Tell your congressman to vote for passage of H.R. 1526."

[WAcoyotehunter]

No thanks.  I don't like the sounds of this legislation. 

[Wenatcheejay]

This sounds like it might lead to logging jobs, mill jobs, trucker jobs, basically more jobs. More jobs equate to less people taking welfare, most importantly they may not qualify for the Portable Healthcare Act subsidies. (That they can't get on the website for anyway.) This could lead to a small movement of independence from government and independent thinking. That leads to less (D) votes. Sorry, it will never be allowed in the Republic of Seattle.

[WAcoyotehunter]

There are other ways to lead to more trees coming out of the forest.

[Elkaholic daWg]

I think the downside is that we are turning a FOREST into a FACTORY...  we can keep the same designation and cut more trees.  Isn't that the point of the bill, to make the FS cut more trees?

IDK what you mean Elkaholic?  Why should we make ALL the FS lands into a tree farm?  How is that good?

Sure would be better than constant courtfests!

[buckfvr]

If any of you have received a response back from your Congressperson that happens to be a Democrat, write them back and ask them to explain how they are representing us when the votes were clearly partisan.  Remember, all Democratic Congresspersons from Washington voted against the bill; all Republicans voted for it.  It appears they are following the commands of the Democratic caucus and NOT representing their constituents.

It can be said that both parties are doing this.............as in everything else they vote on, almost to the person, they vote along party lines.  Term limits is neccessary in order for people to vote right and wrong versus voting with only job preservation in mind. 

Dems in this state are alot safer than the repubs...........We the 2 or 4%, whatever we are, like it or not, have very little effect on state politics.   

[hughjorgan]

There are other ways to lead to more trees coming out of the forest.

What alternatives are there and what don't you like about the proposed legislation? Getting the lawyers out of the equation is a good thing. Putting people to work is good, money for education, responsibly managing a resource sustainably... All beneficial to rural areas that have been depressed by poor policies of the past.

[WAcoyotehunter]

The alternative would be to figure out a way to give something to everyone.  There has not been a lawsuit up here in a LONG time because of the forest collaborative. 

More trees can be cut, more jobs created, and more people can enjoy our forests.  They don't have to become plantations.

[npaull]

Healthy forests are managed forests

I don't think logging is across the board bad by any means (obviously we need wood, jobs are good, good for grazers like deer, etc), but the idea that forests NEED us to log them to be "healthy" is on its face completely and utterly ludicrous.