Don Young intimidated a member of Congress who had signed on to H.R. 39
just last year. His staff representative told us the Congressman was new
to Don Young's committee and was afraid to sign this year because of possible
trouble with Don Young. Don Young is famous for this kind of threat to the
careers of anyone who opposes him. He spoke harshly of the "big bird--a black
brant costume symbol of Izembek National Wildlife--at a protest before the
hearings on a proposed road through Izembek's cold water lagoons. Called
all Americans outsiders and the local people needed this road--cited a pregnant
woman needing transportation--a trip on the proposed road would take up to 2
hours in the best weather, and the tax payer funded hovercraft takes 20
minutes. Would that Don Young could become pregnant and sent down such a
road! The proposed road through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is using
health concerns of locals to secure a road for potential oil and gas development
in this critical-world recognized water fowl habitat--every bird in the Arctic
funnels through Izembek Refuge. Would be great if offshore drilling in the
Beaufort and Chukchi Seas were only a ruse but Obama has opened the door for oil
drilling off the coast of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Below are
a few of Don Young's remarks reported by the Fairbanks Daily
Newsminer. Phyllis
FAIRBANKS – Rep. Don Young treated a local Republican luncheon crowd to a
forceful speech on Friday, decrying the “socialists” who have swelled the size
of government in the past year and bemoaning regulations that he says continue
to limit development in Alaska.
He also had plenty of criticism
for the federal regulatory burdens that he believes have stifled mining, timber
and oil exploration in Alaska.
He said the Obama administration’s recent
announcement to expand offshore drilling is a charade, designed to divert
criticism once gasoline prices spike this summer. He said studies and
heavy-handed oversight will nullify any new areas that have ostensibly been
opened to drilling.
“Believe me, there will not be any
development of the Chukchi Sea under this administration,” he said.
Young also defended his continued request for budget earmarks, a
controversial move that puts him at odds with other Republicans. The GOP House
leadership asked its members for a one-year moratorium on earmark requests,
which have been blasted by both Republicans and Democrats as contributors to an
expanding federal budget.
Young’s use of earmarks has been particularly
controversial. A $10 million earmark by Young for a road project in Florida is
the subject of a federal investigation, which resulted in GOP House colleagues
stripping him of his seniority.