Concerns Grow About Accelerated Industry Rush for Favors if Bush Re-election Appears Uncertain
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ — The nonprofit Campaign to Protect America’s Lands (CPAL) announced that it is sending an email today to 59,684 Department of Interior employees urging them to use a confidential tipline (1- 866-LANDTIP or http://www.landtip.org) to report any new anti-environment rules or other steps related to America’s public lands, parks or wilderness areas that may crop up in the coming months. CPAL’s goal is to thwart a whole new round of special-interest proposals that are expected to clog Interior if panicked industry executives come to believe that President Bush is unlikely to serve a second term.
”Our concern is that industry demands for special treatment at Interior will go beyond the fever pitch they’ve been at already if companies start to worry that President Bush is fighting a losing re-election battle,” CPAL Director Peter Altman explained. ”These companies literally will start grabbing for anything that they can get their hands on, and the Bush Administration likely will go even further to subvert the democratic process in order to accommodate its powerful friends.”
From the first day, Bush has tried to change everything as fast as he can. He has always looked like someone who doubts he’ll get a second term. Keep an eye on the store while he is out showing his leadership. mjh