TRUTH BE KNOWN

Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief of the National Forest System recently released a statement that significantly revises the contribution to forest receipts through recreation dollars.  The announcement blows the lid off Clinton Era estimates that had recreation accounting for 85% of the system’s gross domestic product (GDP) while extraction (timber and mineral) only accounted for 11%. 

In fact, the researched numbers compiled by a nonprofit organization called Natural Resources News Service only attributes 59% of GDP to recreation.  While that may appear significant because it still reflects the larger half of the pie, one must remember the pitiful amount of extraction that has and still is taking place on national forests since the Clinton Administration made their fraudulent announcement in the year 2000.  With current timber production measuring only 10% of the amount prior to his administration while still accounting for 41% of the GDP, dramatically illustrates how far the Forest Service has fallen with regard to their fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of our nation.

When the news reached Michael Francis, a Wilderness Society spokesperson, his comment reflected the tunnel vision typical of liberal-minded preservationists.  He is quoted as saying, “Would you expect anything different from the Bush Administration?  No.  They will cook the books for whatever they want.”  I find his comments to be quite interesting to say the least since he and his ilk have been feasting on Clinton “cooking” for the past five years.  As it stands, swallowing will not be quite so easy in the coming days for Mr. Francis and his pals.