Check out this great op-ed by Congressman Steve Pearce!
I’d like to invite you to join me in a conversation about the Organ Mountains at 6 p.m. this Wednesday at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
As you may know, there are very different proposals relating to the Organs. Some were written here in New Mexico, by New Mexicans, and some were written in Washington by radical special interests. Some are about protecting our heritage and respecting the needs of the community, while others will have a devastating impact on Doña Ana County.
Each time I see the Organ Mountains, I am inspired by their beauty and grandeur. That’s why I introduced H.R. 995 to preserve this treasured landmark as a national monument for generations to come. The monument will forever be a part of the National Landscape Conservation System. Recreation will be protected — the bill was written by local people who explore and enjoy the rugged beauty of the Organs.
In my bill, mineral exploration will be banned, watersheds will be preserved, plans are made ahead of time to protect water conservation, dams, and other vital water projects, and law enforcement will be guaranteed access to protect our communities. Motorized vehicle use will be carefully prescribed in consideration of the environment, while promoting access thorough designated roads, so that all can enjoy the Organs.
Access for hunters is protected, so that responsible game management can continue. The needs of the community are carefully balanced with the goal of responsible conservation. This bill has been a years-long process involving New Mexico ranchers, conservationists, public officials, business owners and interested citizens in a common purpose. It is a local solution.
Tragically, all of this local effort is at risk of coming to nothing. An executive order from Washington would steamroll the careful efforts made by local residents. In contrast to the balanced approach created through the input of people throughout the county, the White House proposal takes away our voice. It tightens Washington’s grasp over a fifth of Doña Ana County, restricts access to our land, and closes the discussion permanently.
Local law enforcement personnel — including Border Patrol agents — will have to get special permission from federal bureaucrats to do their job, impairing our security as a community and as a nation. Ranchers with grazing permits will be forced to call someone on the other end of the country to make their voices heard. If you’re a hiker who wants to propose a change to the way the land is managed, your only means of doing so is 2,000 miles away, in Washington.
Simply put, you are severely restricted in access to one-fifth of your county….
When we rise above politics and all work together, we can reach our shared goals. I sponsored H.R. 995 to protect what we all treasure: the Organ Mountains. The best solution is the one that comes from an open, transparent, and democratic process.
Again, I invite you to join me and take part in that process. I’ll be attending a community discussion about the Organ Mountains this Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, so we can continue the conversation, and keep the community involved in the process. Come, learn, and make your voice heard.
One of the last community meetings was filled with progressive Leftists from El Paso who were bussed in to support Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich’s liberal stands.
As reported by one conservative:
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Political Fireball 
Obviously Tea Party Congressman Steve Pearce is playing a political game with the proposed Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Look at his presenters for his March 19th discussion meeting – a bunch of anti-wilderness and anti-Federal government people, who represent developers, naysayers, and fear-mongers.
http://www.b1450.com/2014/03/14/am-las-cruces-31/
KOBE 1450 AM radio announced that “Kelly O’Connell of KOBE 1450 AM will be the MC at the Community Discussion on Protecting the Organ Mountains. It happens Wednesday beginning at 6pm at the Farm and Ranch Museum and everybody is invited to attend. Rep. Steve Pierce will be there along with Gary Esslinger, Sheriff Garrison, Betty Bishop, Carol Cooper, Jerry Schickedanz and Bill Allen.” There will likely be no real community participation. By the way Congressman Pearce’s name was spelled wrong.
This is simply an attack meeting on the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument by the Tea Party Congressman and is an insult to our community and intelligence.
Congressman Steve Pearce has shown his extreme right wing ideology and his indifference to his Dona Ana County constituents. With the help of his District Policy Adviser Fred Huff, a rabid anti-wilderness advocate and a firm believer of an Agenda 21 conspiracy, Mr. Pearce has again propose a “Lilliputian” Organ Mountains National Monument in Congress – HR 995. It covers a scant 54,800 acres. By the way, Mr. Huff was one of leaders in the fight against the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument.
Here is Mr. Pearce – read this hypocrisy from his meeting announcement: “The best solution is the one that comes from an open, transparent, and democratic process… so we can continue the conversation, and keep the community involved in the process. Come, learn, and make your voice heard.” I just want residents to know that anyone who is critical of Mr. Pearce on any issue will be automatically deleted on his Facebook page by his staff. He is not open to any differences of opinion. So constituents need to “voluntarily submit” to his viewpoint or face deletion!
My question for Tea party Congressman Pearce for this March 19th meeting is : “Were you behind the recent push poll against the proposed National Monument??”
Mr. Pearce should follow the adage of Abraham Lincoln : “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Southern New Mexicans – should not be fooled by the bogus poll and Mr. Pearce’s continuous anti-Federal government rhetoric. Instead they should write President Obama to finally establish the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
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