Democrats in Legislature Give Gov. Christie Another Right Wing Platform
“Forest Stewardship” bill on Gov. Desk Getting National Attention
Heartland Institute Notes Democratic Sponsors & Environmental Support
*** These are not the forest stewards who will be implementing the logging bill (Source: Dodge Foundation website). Note: Dodge fails to identify these folks or explain what they are doing in a caption. I find that very disrespectful and - given the context - implied support of the stewardship bill. I've asked them to clarify.*** see update below
[Update below]
As I recently wrote, Senator Lesniak (D-Union) made a dominant political dynamic very clear in his Op-Ed criticism of Gov. Christie’s veto of a bill opposed by the Iowa based National Pork Council:
The governor won’t admit it, but his political ambitions appear to be dictating his decision. He must have Iowa on his mind. It is the first state to conduct a Republican primary for president, it is one of the largest pork producers in the country and it is home to the National Pork Council. It appears that he sold his soul to Iowa and sold out to his ambitions for higher office beyond New Jersey.
Well, NJ Legislative Democrats and certain “conservation” groups have managed to give Gov. Christie another national right wing platform issue on his way to 2016.
The latest is passage of a “forest stewardship” bill, now on the Gov.’s desk.
The Heartland Institute has latched on to the “forest stewardship” logging bill, making that issue another opportunity for Christie to appeal to the republican base.
[We previously reported links to the ALEC model forestry bill, so now another right wing group jumps in. Who’s next, Steve Lonegan?]
Heartland is a Koch brothers funded, right wing, “wise use”, climate denial corporate front group. They have flagged that issue for a national audience (see:
We’ve been disgusted by how Gov. Christie has used a series of environmental rollbacks as fodder to bolster his right wing and corporate bona fides – all with little pushback from NJ Democrats or “conservation” groups.
The Gov. has positioned himself on the far political right on a host of red meat issues, using the message, slogans, and policy agenda of the right, including:
- subtle climate change denial (an “esoteric issue” according to the Gov.);
- unilaterally removing NJ from RGGI (a move designed to appease a campaign by the Koch Brothers funded Americans For Prosperity);
- “Rebuild Now!” response to Sandy, a firm rejection of climate risks;
- “Job killing red tape” and “regulatory relief” slogans to mask attacks on government and protective regulations
Some NJ media and political pundits finally have begun to realize that Gov. Christie is engaging in this right wing agenda to promote his national political ambitions – by doing so along a host of policy issues, from guns, to gays, women’s healthcare, and medical marijuana.
Here’s a good example of that recognition that the Gov.’s political ambitions and right wing ideology trump the best interests of NJ: Gov. Christie’s towering hypocrisy on climate
Well, the Gov.’s climate denying friends over at the right wing Heartland Institute have weighed in on the latest national platform issue for Gov. Christie.
And the Democrats provided that opportunity – with environmental groups support, things that Heartland emphasized:
The language of the bill allows targeted logging as a forest stewardship strategy, and the bill’s Democratic sponsors made it clear they consider targeted logging a necessary component of wise stewardship for many state-owned forest lands.
Fine-Tuned for Environmental Support
McKeon made several changes to the bill’s initial language, responding to concerns voiced by various environmental activist groups. Most importantly for environmental activists, McKeon added the language ensuring forest stewardship plans comply with Forest Stewardship Council standards.
So there you have it – Dems and “conservation” groups on the same page with right wing climate denying corporate front groups like Heartland.
Heckofajob!
[Update: Clarification from Dodge – my apologies for over-looking the info – I typically look under the photo for the caption:
in the righthand column at the bottom, it states that the photo is the Student Conservation Association.
The photos on these pages are representative of the categories and organizations we fund. They are not intended as a political or advocacy statement.
The actual text reads:
Photo: Student Conservation Assocations’ (sic) Allaire State Park crew after blazing, marking and installing signage for 105,600 feet of trail. Photo courtesy Student Conservation Assocation (sic)