Issue #37 * March 25,1996 * David A. Ridenour, Editor

Representative Randy Tate (R-WA) will host a field hearing for the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs in Washington's 9th Congressional District on April 2 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. The hearing will address federal regulations and their impact on small businesses. "Every day, America's mom and pop grocery stores, family restaurants and corner drug stores are threatened with extinction through government regulation. The federal attack dogs must be called off," said Representative Tate. Those with regulatory horror stories and innovative ideas for regulatory reform are encouraged to call Representative Tate's office at (202)225-3484.

The Omnibus Property Rights Act, S. 605, is scheduled for debate on the Senate floor as early as Wednesday, March 27. If approved, S. 605 would, among other things:

1. Require that landowners be compensated for their losses when --- as the result of government action -- the value of their property is diminished in value by 33% or more;
2. bar federal officials from entering privately-owned land for data collection purposes without the consent of the owner;
3. establish an administrative appeals process for decisions under the Endangered Species Act and wetlands designations (under section 404 of the Clean Water Act); and
4. permit private property owners to file claims against federal agencies in the U.S. District Court or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims when appropriate.

To find out more about S. 605, contact the American Land Rights Association at (360)687-3087 or the Competitive Enterprise Institute at (202)331-1010.

Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA) was named by House Speaker Newt Gingrich on March 21 to serve as Co-Chairman of the Speaker's Environmental Task Force. The addition of Representative Pombo will add much-needed balance to the Task Force as Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), who fought most the GOP's regulatory reform agenda, was selected as the other Co-Chairman of the Task Force late last year. "I look forward to working with the Speaker and all members in advancing the Republican Party's environmental agenda," said Pombo. "Shifting management from federal control to an expanded role for the states, creating incentives for stakeholders, and property rights protection are three common sense basics." For more information, contact Representative Pombo's office at (202)225-1947.

Some corporate representatives who have been looking to pin the blame on someone for the stalled regulatory relief legislation may want to take a good hard look in the mirror. It seems that many of America's large corporations -- most notably, those involved in extractive industries -- are big donors to the environmental movement. That's the finding of Environmental Action, an environmental group that does not accept donations from "any corporations which do not demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship." Among the corporations that gave money to leading green groups are: Chevron U.S.A., Exxon Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Sunoco, Texaco, Amoco Foundation, DuPont, Dow Chemical, The Society of the Plastics Industry, American Plastics Council, Shell Oil Company Foundation, Phillips Petroleum, BP America, Ashland Oil, Mobil Foundation Hoechst-Celanese Foundation, ARCO, and Monsanto. Apparently, environmental groups believe that what these "corporate polluters" lack in green policies they have more than made up for with greenbacks. More corporations for the Relief Report 's "Corporate Hall of Shame" will be included in the next edition. With friends like these...

The National Center for Public Policy Research will release a regulatory victim directory next month, featuring over 100 victims. If you have a story to add call Bob Adams at (202) 543-4110.

All correspondence to The Relief Report should be directed to:

The National Center for Public Policy Research
501 Capitol Ct., N.E. * Washington, D.C. 20002
Tel. (202) 543-4110 * Fax (202)543-5975
E-mail eptf@nationalcenter.org
Web http://www.nationalcenter.org/.

©1996, The National Center for Public Policy Research. Coverage of meetings, activities or statements in The Relief Report does not imply endorsement by The National Center for Public Policy Research.

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