Eric,
I have to disagree with the position taken by the author of the
message you forwarded on this legislation. A tax cut is a tax cut, and
I don't see how this would "devalue" land. Of course I don't like that
the bill allows people who sell land to the government as well as to
private land trusts to take a cut. But it still reduces the overall
burden of government by giving people the option to send less cash to
Uncle Sam when they sell.
A proposal I once came up with myself actually mirrors this in some
ways (though of course it would be more far-sweeping). I proposed a
libertarian collaboration with environmentalists to get land out of
government hands by giving it away or selling it on the cheap to
environmental groups. They know the government is a terrible custodian
of its lands, so this would be a better approach for the environment,
and it would advance libertarian goals at the same time by increasing
the role of the private sector and reducing government control.
Let's not turn our backs on a positive change just because some groups
that are ideological opponents of certain aspects of libertarianism
would also benefit.
Yours in liberty,
<<< Starchild >>>
APCalert <apcalert@americanpolicy.org> (edited for date by me)
September 4, 2003*** EMERGENCY ACTION NEEDED! CRITICALLY IMPORTANT VOTE TODAY,
SEPTEMBER
4TH!Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. the House Ways and Means Committee will vote on
whether to include a massive, unfair, tax-advantage to green land
trusts in
H.R. 7 (the supposed "Faith-based" initiative).This is a showdown between property rights advocates and green land
grabbers. The outcome will be CRUCIAL. This is one that property
rights folks CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE!We only have the next 4 hours to make our voices heard.
Multibillion-dollar, green land trusts like the ever-corrupt Nature
Conservancy are demanding that Congress add a loophole to H.R. 7
that will
discount 50% off of capital gains taxes for a seller of land—BUT
only if
land is sold to a land trust or government agency! This places
EVERYONE
ELSE at an extreme comparative disadvantage when attempting to
purchase
land.This will severely devalue private property. It will discourage
private
parties from even bidding on land, so the only offers for land will
be made
by the land-grabbing green groups and government agencies.This unfair tax advantage would enable The Nature Conservancy and
their greedy cohorts to swallow private property at a RECORD PACE.** ACTION TO TAKE**
1. Contact the following members of the House Ways and Means
Committee and
tell them NO TAX FAVORITISM FOR LAND TRUSTS IN H.R. 7!!! Land trusts
and
federal agencies should NOT be able to peddle a 50% capital gains
tax cut to
sellers of property. It makes it impossible for others to compete
with them
when purchasing land! (Phone calls and faxes are most effective at
this
late hour. E-mails are important too, but may or may not be read in
time to
have an impact on tomorrow's vote.)William Thomas (R-CA) PHONE (202) 225-2915 -- FAX (202) 225-8798 –
E-mail: bill.Thomas@mail.house.govPhilip Crane (R-IL) PHONE (202) 225-3711 – FAX (202) 225-7830 – E-
mail – go
to www.house.gov/craneNancy Johnson (R-CN) PHONE (202 225- 4476 – FAX (202 225-4488 – E-
mail --
go to www.house.gov/nancyjohnsonAmory Houghton (R-NY) PHONE (202) 225-3161 – FAX (202) 225-5574 – E-
mail –
go to www.houghton.house.govWally Herger (R-CA) PHONE (202) 225- 3076 – No fax listed – E-mail –
go to
www.house.gov/hergerJim McCrery (R-LA) PHONE (202) 225-2777 – FAX (202) 225-8039 – E-
mail – go
to www.house.gov/mccreryDave Camp (R-MI) PHONE (202) 225-3561 – FAX (202) 225-9679 – E-mail –
go to
www.house.gov/campJim Ramstad (R-MN) PHONE (202) 225-2871 – FAX (202) 225-6351 – E-
mail:
mn03@mail.house.govJim Nussle (R-IA) PHONE (202) 225-2911 – FAX (202) 225-9129 – E-mail:
nussleia@mail.house.govSam Johnson (R-TX) PHONE (202) 225-4201 – FAX (202) 225-1485 – E-
mail – go
to www.samjohnson.house.govJennifer Dunn (R-WA) PHONE (202) 225-7761 – FAX (202) 225-8673 – E-
mail:
dunnwa08@mail.house.govMichael Collins (R-GA) PHONE (202) 225-5901 – FAX (202) 225-2515 – E-
mail –
go to www.house.gov/maccollinsRob Portman (R-OH) PHONE (202) 225-3164 – FAX (202) 225-1992 – E-
mail:
portmail@mail.house.govPhilip English (R-PA) PHONE (202) 225-5406 – FAX (202) 225-3103 – E-
mail –
go to www.house.gov/englishJ.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) PHONE (202) 225-2190 – FAX (202) 225-3263 – E-
mail:
jdhayworth@mail.house.govJerry Weller (R-IL) PHONE (202) 225-3635 – FAX (202) 225-3521 – E-
mail – go
to www.house.gov/wellerKenny Hulshof (R-MO) PHONE (202) 225-2956 – FAX (202) 225-5712 – E-
mail –
go to www.house.gov/hulshofScott McInnis (R-CO) PHONE (202) 225-4761 – FAX (202) 225-0622 – E-
mail –
go to www.house.gov/mcinnisRon Lewis (R-KY) PHONE (202) 225-3501 – FAX (202) 225-2019 – E-mail:
ron.lewis@mail.house.govMark Foley (R-FL) PHONE (202) 225-5792 – FAX (202) 225-3132 – E-
mail – go
to www.house.gov/foleyKevin Brady (R-TX) PHONE (202) 225-4901 – FAX (202) 225-5524 – E-
mail – go
to www.house.gov/bradyPaul Ryan (R-WI) PHONE (202) 225-3031 – FAX (202) 225-3393 – E-mail –
go to
www.house.gov/ryanEric Cantor (R-VA) PHONE (202) 225-2815 – FAX (202) 225-0011 – E-
mail – go
to www.cantor.house.gov2. Call your own Representative, no matter who it is, and tell them
NO land
trust tax favoritism in H.R. 7! It doesn't matter if your
congressman is
conservative or liberal—THEY MUST HEAR FROM YOU! ANY congressman
could go
either way on this issue so let's bring them over to OUR SIDE. House
Switchboard: (202) 225-3121.3. Contact Congressmen Roy Blunt and Richard Pombo. They are
fighting hard
for property rights and do NOT want to give the multibillion-dollar
land
trusts and government agencies ANY tax advantages in their never-
ending
quest to gobble up more and more private property. THANK THEM and
let them
know they have your support!For Rep. Roy Blunt, please contact:
April Ponnuru - april.ponnuru@mail.house.govFor Rep. Richard Pombo, please contact:
Laura Hylden - laura.hylden@mail.house.gov***PLEASE FORWARD TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE***
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