Destruction of traditional lands and sacred sites throughout the U.S. continues as a result of the Salvage Logging Rider. Your calls are needed today to urge repeal of the Rider.

From Jim Jontz and Steve Holmer
September 27, 1996

GORE SAYS: SALVAGE LOGGING LAW IS “BIGGEST MISTAKE”

Negotiations to End by Late Today, Early Tomorrow?

RIDER REPEAL ISSUE YET TO BE RESOLVED — Last Chance for Calls

Negotiators on the FY 97 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which could be the vehicle for repeal of the Rescissions Act Logging Rider if the White House insists that repeal be included in this “must pass” measure, worked late last night “in an effort to reach an agreement that still could allow both chambers to pass the legislation today or early this weekend,” Congress Daily reports.

It is believed that no agreement has been reached on the Rider provision, meaning that it will need to be resolved soon if this timetable holds firm.

THUSDAY, THERE MAY BE ONLY A MATTER OF HOURS FOR A HEAVY VOLUME OF CALLS TO SWAMP THE WHITE HOUSE INSISTING ON RIDER REPEAL. So please, as many times as you can today.

Call the White House Comment line at: (202)456-1111.

Call Leon Panetta (Chief of Staff’s) comment line: (202)456-6797

Fax the White House (Chief of Staff): (202)567-2883

Meanwhile, the AP reports that in a PBS interview to air tonight (10 p.m. EDT), Vice President Al Gore told David Frost that the Logging Rider was the “biggest mistake” of the entire four years of Clinton’s Administration.

“I think the biggest mistake that we have made involved an issue known in the U.S. as the ‘salvage rider,'” Gore said. Gore acknowledged the Rider “was damaging forest ecosystems,” but the AP report suggests that Gore is still trying to lay the blame for the rider on Judge Hogan’s decision enlarging section 318, and is counting on expiration at the end of the year to remedy the damage.

“It was a mistake that we thought was a very small mistake at the time, but a court decision made it much more significant,” Gore is quoted. “Luckily, that law will run out on December 31st of this year and we have a better chance of containing the damage and undoing the worst of it.”

We are grateful that the Administration is seeking Rider repeal in the Omnibus Appropriations bill. Our hopes depend on their commitment to negotiate for Rider repeal. But isn’t it upsetting that Gore is still trying to blame Judge Hogan and won’t acknowledge all of the sales (at least 163 bad ones, by our count, that have nothing to do with Judge Hogan) that will be logged after October 1 if the Rider isn’t repealed now?

Call the White House, keep up the pressure, INSIST ON RIDER REPEAL NOW!