Environmentalists lose in key House votes (re: snowmobiles in Yellowstone)

[DaveSZ]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1153&slug=Yellowstone%20Snowmobiles


Thursday, June 17, 2004 · Last updated 4:32 p.m. PT

House OKs snowmobiles in West's parks

By ALAN FRAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- The House voted Thursday to let snowmobiles continue using Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as the recreation industry dealt a defeat to environmentalists.

By 224-198, the chamber beat back an effort to ban the vehicles by lawmakers who said the machines cause pollution and noise, and pose a danger to the parks' wildlife.

"Yellowstone National Park is a unique environment, a precious national treasure that deserves an extra level of protection," said Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., one of the sponsors.

Snowmobile advocates - backed by snowmobile manufacturers and tourism interests - said a ban would devastate the local economy around the parks, which lie mostly in northwestern Wyoming. They also said that despite their opponents' assertions, new snowmobiles are cleaner and quieter than older models.

-more

[MASSAFRA]

1. It should not be

the responsibility of the government to give people a place to ride their snow mobiles.

[robcon]

11. The government did not find a place for snowmobilers to ride.

MASSAFRA wrote " It should not be the responsibility of the government to give people a place to ride their snow mobiles. "


I disagree completely. I think your argument is sdrawkcab.

It is not the government's role to decide whether people can seek recreation in any manner they want to. People obviously can seek any recreation that does not impinge on others' rights.

It is the burden of those who want to restrict that right to prove that there is some over-reaching reason why the rights of snowmobilers need to be restricted. It's an important distinction: we are a free people, and the default position is that people can do what they want.

[Massacure]

2. This is extremely sad

[bluestateguy]

3. Might as well change the name to Yellowstone National Playground

Have to sanitize the parks for the upper middle class people from the McSuburbs. Heaven forbid they should have to rough it in the great outdoors.

[MasonJar]

4. What else would anyone expect with the pugs in charge. We

have to get rid of them. Come everyone off his seat and out.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Maybe what Yellowstone needs is

more grizzly bears.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Piperay]

8. Figures, I wouldn't have expected anything else

with the 'foxes in charge of the hen house'. :shrug: :-(

[dusty64]

10. Me neither.

x

[theoceansnerves]

9. damn it!

i thought this mess was over with.

"recreation industry dealt a defeat to environmentalists." - doesn't that tell you all you need to know? status quo.

'leaked documents reveal lies about snowmobiles in parks':
http://www.thememoryhole.org/nps/snowmobiles.htm