I think it's inevitable that Congress is going to make some
serious cuts in federal natural resource programs, especially
EPA, USDA Forest Service, and USDI agencies. For example, there
is talk of axing USGS altogether, and environmental groups are
pushing to cut Forest Service road budgets.
Many FOREST netters have an insider's view of the way these
federal programs and agencies run, and how useful and effective
they are. A natural response is to speak up for programs and
agencies that benefit (or employ) you. But nobody cares about
that self-interested response. A better response would be to let
Congress know, from an insider's view, what programs *don't*
work, and ought to be axed. Face it, if you don't give them
your list of priorities, they'll use someone else's.
So put yourself in this position: you're responsible for cutting
the federal natural resources budget by 40-50 percent. What
agencies would you eliminate or combine? What particular
programs are a waste of taxpayers' money? What about combining
USDA Forest Service and a couple of other USDA agencies with the
USDI?
Let's hear your $-saving ideas, be they small programs or large
agencies! Please provide a *little* rationale for your
suggestions, and if you can, an estimate of the total annual $
saved. I will post a summary.
...Sam
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Radcliffe George Banzhaf & Company
Voice: (414) 276-2062 225 E. Michigan Street
Fax: (414) 276-5206 Milwaukee, WI 53202
Mail converted by
MHonArc 1.1.0