Bush Administration and Property Rights
by Peyton Knight

During his 2000 presidential campaign, George W. Bush repeatedly promised the nation that "Help is on the way." Property rights victims, especially those in Midwestern and Western states, cheered the President's message and came out in droves to support him on Election Day. Finally, there would be an end to the reckless Clinton regime that treated landowners like second-class citizens.

Four years later, property rights advocates are still waiting for that promised help. In fact, forget help. It would be nice if the White House would just stop working against property owners.

March 30 of this year provided a perfect snapshot of the Bush Administration's utter disregard for those suffering under the tyranny of federal land-use policies. That day, Property Rights Foundation of America President Carol LaGrasse traveled from New York to Washington to testify against the creation of a National Heritage Area (NHA) program. LaGrasse explained to the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks that NHAs are "designed to gradually accomplish federal land use control." She noted that "The Heritage Area program also has the goal of transferring private land to government," and will adversely affect all property owners.

That very same day, the Bush Administration openly promoted the new Heritage Area initiative and pulled the rug out from under LaGrasse and property rights advocates nationwide. The U.S. Department of Interior issued a press release stating "the Bush Administration is proposing legislation to establish a National Heritage Area program." National Park Service Deputy Director Randy Jones stated in the release: "These areas also must work closely with all partners in the region, including federal land-management agencies." What about the land owners?

This is the "help" we were promised? More land-use restrictions and federal controls over property? Property rights and limited government advocates have successfully fought the creation of a National Heritage Area program for over a decade. We successfully beat it back during eight painful years of Bill Clinton. Now the Bush Administration is succeeding in advancing the radical green agenda more than President Clinton!

Of course, property rights advocates will to continue to fight. The American Policy Center is scheduled to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Parks on behalf of property owners in staunch opposition the NHA program. APC is leading the fight against National Heritage Areas testifying twice before Congress last year.

Property rights advocates would like to have White House support but now that the Bush Administration has acted, at least they could let property-rights advocates fight the battle against the radical greens without further interference.

Peyton Knight is executive director of the American Policy Center. The Center's website is www.americanpolicy.org.