To list just a few examples, I would not support cutting programs (unless immoral) that provide significant financially return of funds to the American economy. I support the legitimate spending associated with defending our county, prevent invasion of our county by illegals, terrorists, or a foreign enemy, meet past obligations for mitigating of the taking of land and waters from the American people, and meet prior treaty obligations with American Indian nations.
Today, I wish discuss a commitment that is not funded and if it is not funded will results in significant economic loss to our economy, significant damage to future economies and communities who had their land previously taken and flooded for the creation of dams and production of electricity which does not direct benefit the people living near the dams. The specific figures detailed below are in just one region of the county. But the same can be said for other regions with similar situations. When you view the figure, image what it would be like if all our Government funded programs were returning these high economic returns for its citizens.
Bureaucrats are great at focusing on "across the board cuts" cuts verses rational thinking. Bureaucrats are great on cutting programs which do not significantly affect the votes they seek for themselves even if those cuts damage the broader economy. Below are two specific examples which have not been funded but should be funded based on morally commitments and the economic success of these programs.
Funding of Fish Hatcheries
President Obama's 2013 Budget was released on February 13th and according to a USFWS Bureau Highlights document, the mitigation hatcheries, including Norfork National Fish Hatchery and Greer’s Ferry National Fish Hatchery were not included for funding. The following is an excerpt from page BH-61 of that document. In over seven months, this situation has not changed.
For the second consecutive year, the USFWS has eliminated funding from their proposed budget for the nine mitigation hatcheries which includes the Norfork NFH and Greer’s Ferry NFH in spite of the successful efforts by Congress to reinstate the funding into the 2012 Budget.
Some background: When dams were built by the Federal government to both mitigate the flooding of rivers and to provide hugh lakes (energy pools) for the production of hydro-electricity, there were also negative consequences. First, there was the condemning and the taking of private land to subsequently flood. Then there was the major negative consequence of significantly increasing the temperature of the water / rivers below the constructed dams. The waters became "very" cold, and the native fish in those natural flowing rivers died. In other words, the building of the dams created cold dead streams and rivers.
However, a solution was found to mitigate the destruction of the natural rivers and native fish. National fish hatcheries were established to breed cold water fish and to stock these cold water rivers and the lakes with these fish. For the rivers, the fish were predominately trout. Eventually, a new industry composed of individuals and small businesses developed around trout fishing on these cold river and streams. Below are documented figures for just two of the National fish hatcheries in my Arkansas Ozark area. The figures identify the significant economic impact that developed. The same can be said for most others hatcheries.
- The Norfork NFH returns $90,427,747 dollars into the economy and $5,996,155 in tax revenue from an annual operating cost of $952,000. Click for the details.
- The Greers NFH returns $68,434,866 dollars into the economy and $4,537,833 of tax revenue from an annual operating cost of $606,000. Click for the details.
The Friends of the Norfork Fish Hatchery have said it best,"The current political climate in Washington is for "cost cutting" without much thought that some Federal programs actually return more money to the system than the cost of funding the program. We, you and I, and anyone who is concerned about the ongoing health of our trout fishery and the impact on local economies must contact our legislators."
While they have focused on two areas in the Arkansas Ozarks, their words speak for people living in other areas of the counties who have their fish hatcheries threatened with extinction via budget cutting. Get the facts, force your members of Congress to listen.
And since it an election year, for me, it is quite evident that there is no love by Obama administration for successful programs that contribute to the economy of the United States.
Tags: Ozarks, Ozark Mountains, Arkansas, fish hatcheries, trout, Federal government, funding, dams, cold rivers, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
0 comments:
Post a Comment