John Turner Probable Interior Department Choice

ARCHIVED 2003–2016 — Originally distributed via eWire press wire service

HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE | THE ARCHIVE Search Circuits Alternative Energy Alternative Health Conservation & Wildlife Corporate Responsibility Eco-Tourism Events Food & Agriculture Government Legal & Regulatory Natural Resources Science & Technology Transportation Benefits Products & Services Distribution List Syndication Partners Global Clients Testimonials FAQs ************************************************************************** E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE ************************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: John Turner Probable Interior Department Choice WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Feb. 8 -/E-Wire/-- Mr. John "Czar" Turner may be named today Deputy Secretary of the Interior, the department's #2 position and a post from which he is expected to effectively control the Interior Department's operations. Turner, a liberal Republican with a controversial environmental record, is bitterly opposed by organizations advocating private property rights and increased recreational access to federal lands. "This is a disaster for the small towns and rural areas that voted for President Bush. Turner is even worse than Bruce Babbitt in a way, because he will be a wolf in sheep's clothing in a Republican administration," said Chuck Cushman, Executive Director of the American Land Rights Association (ALRA). "Turner will handle Gale Norton the same way he did former Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan. He will establish a separate political power base, backed up by his longtime financial patrons in the Rockefeller family, liberal Republicans and Democrats in Congress, and will be insulated by his close friendship with Vice President Cheney. He will impose his priorities and effectively control the department, with Norton as a figurehead," said Cushman. Nelson Rockefeller Jr. serves on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Fund, a land acquisition trust fund where Turner is currently CEO. Turner was Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations. Some of his actions: - Using federal and state regulations, Turner forced the Witham family out of their cottage and off their property on Metinic Island, Maine, claiming it was habitat for migrating birds. He had the Conservation Fund purchase the land, and then resell it to the Fish and Wildlife Service for a $47,000 profit. FWS then renovated the cottage and now uses it as a summer retreat for its employees and invited guests. - Responsible for listing the Northern Spotted Owl as an endangered species based on poor scientific research. This wrecked small town economies throughout the Pacific Northwest, and did little to help the owl. While Americans suffered here at home, Turner's first action as a member of the Clinton Administration on January 26, 1993 was to propose delisting three species of kangaroos in Australia! - Made "the identification of endangered species by the Service Directorate the highest priority Service activity," according to a March 1990 FWS memo. "Turner used the Endangered Species Act as a tool to grab federal control of private property," charged Cushman. - Asked his liberal Democratic allies in Congress to attach a rider, amendment #218, to the 1989 Interior appropriations bill creating a Wolf Management Committee. He then directed $12 million toward wolf reintroduction in an effort to harass family cattle and sheep ranchers and force them out of business. "This is a tremendous disappointment and a slap in the face, especially after rural areas carried Bush to victory in key states such as Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia. Instead of looking forward to new opportunities, we will be fighting the same old battles with Land Grabber John Turner," concluded Cushman. /SOURCE: American Land Rights Association -0- 02-08-2001 /CONTACT: Michael Hardiman, lobbyist, American Land Rights Association, [PHONE REDACTED]