S O U N D   O F F

February 1, 2010

President Obama’s proposed $12.2 billion budget for Interior in FY 2011 is a fiscally responsible plan that will enable the nation’s largest land manager to carry out its stewardship responsibilities more effectively while making strategic investments in priority initiatives that address major challenges facing the nation. Secretary Salazar said:

The President is making tough choices in difficult economic times, cutting costs and holding the line on spending by ending ineffective programs and supporting cost-efficient initiatives. Through our collective effort in protecting America’s natural resources and cultural resources heritage, we support 1.3 million jobs - RS: The President doesn't have a money generating product, so it's our advise he shouldn't take on a payroll. Where does he think he'll get that kind of change? Chuck retired from the Stock Show and his cattle business. So he doesn't have any to give away...even to me! His own wife! In spite of my desperate need for an office, he refuses to spend one penny on converting the chicken coupe into one. Why? Because he first needs to find how much the Good Neighbor Law Debate (Designed to give people truth and facts.) might cost him. - and generate over $370 billion in economic activity each year. Interior plays a key role in responsibly developing America’s new energy frontier, tackling the impacts of climate change, RS: For the President to utter the words "climate change" and include it in policy making is silly. Chuck will never be able to change "nature made" weather. If he could, he'd still be in the cattle business. If The President was sincere in his claims to save America, he'd abolish "man made income" tax, and implement American Consumer Tax.preserving America’s treasured landscapes and empowering Tribal nations.

The 2011 budget (www.doi.gov/budget) continues the Secretary’s aggressive agenda for reform. The Administration’s request for Interior contains $750 million in reductions and terminations of lower priority programs and elimination of one-time funding. RS: Good. President Obama needs to include terminations of grants to eco-activist groups like Nature Conservancy. Chuck doesn't want him to take his money and give it to them! The 2011 budget is $38.7 million or 0.3 percent below the level enacted by Congress for 2010.

The budget proposes investments for high priority goals and initiatives that move the Department in a new direction. In 2010 the Department began an aggressive program to tackle RS: Chuck said this sounds like a football game. Here a tackle there a tackle. If you left the indigenous "Stewards of the Land/Conservationists on the land, they'd continue taking care of everything at little to no cost to Chuck. these challenges and the 2011 budget continues these areas, including the following:

• Implementing a comprehensive New Energy Frontier strategy that creates jobs, reduces the Nation’s dependence on foreign oil and reduces carbon emissions. The budget proposes a $73 million investment in renewable energy programs, an increase of $14.2 million over 2010; and $4.4 million in increases to support oil and natural gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf;
  RS: This is fine, as long as the President stops manipulating the market by gifting his favorite children...and abusing Chuck. He should instead enforce "fair" trade, and free "competitive markets." Fact: President "chooses" to fritter away Chuck's money by financing the start up of 1 green job at the loss of 2 producing jobs.
• Confronting the realities of climate change through an integrated strategy for Climate Change Adaptation. RS: There's those silly words again! The proposed budget seeks $171.3 million for this initiative, an increase of $35.4 million over 2010, to carry out the Department’s integrated program. RS: Again, making any policy based on CLIMATE is silly! By the way, did Chuck give you permission to help yourself to his money? If not, couldn't President Obama's taking of his money and giving it to someone else be construed as stealing?
• Tackling the water challenges facing the country with a new strategy to Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow (WaterSMART). The budget contains $72.9 million for this initiative, an increase of $36.4 million over 2010. RS: It wasn't smart - or constitutional - for Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska to sign a pac committing water and untold amounts of money to four critters in North Platte Nebraska. Chuck's still sad over the shut down of water to his farmer friends because of this diversion.
• Engaging America’s Youth in Natural Resources. The 2011 budget contains $45.4 million to engage, employ and educate the next generation of conservation leaders, an increase of $9.3 million to help our children get close to nature while conserving the natural resources on which their future depends. RS: Why not quit punishing America's Youth who are already in natural resources...as providers? If the President wants to protect a treasure, he should protect the American FAMILY. He'll find the last reservoirs of family working together as resource providers, and living in rural areas where the President's people constantly attack them.
• Developing a 21st Century conservation agenda that protects Treasured Landscapes. RS: Chuck and his FARMER RANCHER friends protect these so-called "Treasured Landscapes" at their historical fee of zero cost. In addition to funding national parks, refuges and recreation areas, the 2011 DOI budget includes increases of $106.0 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund programs and $71.4 million in other key investments in restoration projects in the Chesapeake Bay, California’s Bay Delta, the Gulf Coast, Klamath River Basin, and Everglades. RS: President Obama should refuse to give Chuck's money to the Nature Conservancy et al, and demand they use what they have to fix potties, fences, paths and so forth in said parks etc., eradicate noxious weeds and mosquitoes in wetlands, and clean up along every road/highway USA.
• Honoring trust responsibilities and Empowering Tribal Nations. The budget calls for a total of $2.6 billion to honor our commitments to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including new investments in tribal self-determination, law enforcement, trust management and tribal self-determination. RS: Agree. Thank you and the President for attempts to right the wrongs here. RS: Please be aware though, that President Obama has now shifted the unjust, cruel treatment once forced on American Indians and Alaska Natives over to America's natural resource providers. And he's using Chuck's money to do so.

Secretary Salazar, here's what Chuck offered. "Have the President call me. I'll be happy to listen to his needs. What I agree with him on, I'll consider asking my farmer friends if they have anything to chip in, next time I go to the coffee shop."

Last, Chuck and I would like to invite you and President Obama to the Good Neighbor Law Debate - April 17th in Denver, Colorado. It is a non-partisan event, and we'd be honored to give you opportunity to demonstrate and defend your products.

Let us know what you'd like to do. We'll do our best to help out.

Thank you,

Roni Bell Sylvester