• Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

SAWS ALERT IDAHO!

J
Feb 19, 2008
1,544
791
113
42
Ogden
SAWS Members;



Today Congressman Mike Simpson’s (R-ID, 2nd District) latest version of his Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) legislation was heard in committee on Capitol Hill. Attached are Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter’s testimony and Idaho Recreation Council representative Mr. Bill Dart’s testimony. Bill was there today and did a great job on behalf of recreationists. Governor Otter requested his testimony be entered as part of the official record. Please read them both, as they contain a wealth of information. You will be proud that we have people like this on our side, and with all due respect to Bill, especially the governor of Idaho!



Best quote I heard on this subject came from Adena Cook of BRC in an email this afternoon, in reference to Rick Johnson, Executive Director of Idaho Conservation League, testimony for CIEDRA’s passage:

“We know we’re making progress when they (Idaho Conservation League) spend precious time attacking us instead of making a case for their cause.”



SAWS has been dealing with various incarnations of CIEDRA almost since our inception. It has been going to Congress since 2002. This year brings the best chance CIEDRA has for passing yet given the current makeup of Congress and the fact that both Idaho Senators introduced CIEDRA to the Senate. This means we have to put our best foot forward in putting a stop to it.



CIEDRA will lock up approximately 330,000 acres of wilderness, land that is already protected from development by the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the Idaho Roadless Rule. This land contains some of the best mountain snowmobiling area in Idaho and the western US, and we stand to lose it if this bill passes!



I want to keep this alert simple and to the point. We have two quick things to do.



1. Please call and/or email Senator Risch (R-ID). The message doesn’t have to be long or complicated—“Idaho already has 4.5 million acres of wilderness, we don’t need any more.” Or “The Boulder White Cloud Mountains are already well managed and protected as part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Leave them as they are.” Or “Wilderness does not protect the land it simply eliminates access to the people who have been responsibly using these mountains for decades” or “CIEDRA is not a recreation bill; it is an anti-recreation bill” or whatever else you want to share.



Be polite, deliver the message and leave your name and phone number or email address.



I would not ask you to do this if wasn’t important! Please make a call or send an email message and get everyone you know to do the same. This needs to be done this week so don’t put it off, act today. This is a time when numbers matter! I assure you those that support the legislation are making lots of contacts! Please act today and pass the message around. Doesn’t matter if you have contacted him in the past.



Boise: 342.7985

Coeur d’Alene: 667.6130

Idaho Falls: 523.5541

Lewiston: 743.0792

Pocatello: 236.6817

Twin Falls: 734.6780



Email link: http://risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email



2. Governor Otter’s testimony on CIEDRA is incredible and we need to thank him. Please send a note to bonnie.butler@gov.idaho.gov. and tell her much we appreciate his letter and how important his involvement in this issue is.



Please do it immediately.



This alert is not just for Idahoans, these are OUR Public Lands!



Thank you for all your support, SAWS wants to keep your riding areas open for you and future generations to ride and enjoy.



Thank you to Idaho Recreation Council and Blue Ribbon Coalition for their contributions to this alert.



Scott Chapman, Idaho SAWS Representative
Copyright © 2010 Snowmobile Alliance of Western States. All Rights Reserved.



Permission is granted to distribute this information in whole or in part, as long as Snowmobile Alliance of Western States (SAWS) is acknowledged as the source. If you are not yet a member of SAWS and you would like receive these alerts, please sign up on our web site at: http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/join.asp It’s FREE!!
 
Premium Features