Here’s President Bush today at Sequoia National Park — text from White House press release:
My administration will adopt a new spirit of respect and cooperation, because, in the end, that is the better way to protect the environment we all share — a new environmentalism for the 21st century. Citizens and private groups play a crucial role. Just as we share an ethic of stewardship, we must share in the work of stewardship. Our challenge is to work in partnership. We must protect the claims of nature while also protecting the legal rights of property owners. We will succeed not by antagonizing one another, but by inviting all to play a part in the solutions we seek.
Here’s Newt Gringrich six years ago introducing the House Republicans’ environmental Vision Statement (a “new environmentalism . . . for the 21st Century”) — text copy is from “House GOP Releases Environmental Plans”, UPI, May 15th, 1996:
This document is the foundation of the new environmentalism, which will define the environmental agenda for the 21st century,” Gingrich said. Some of the “principles” of the one-page vision statement include: –“Americans should be assured that their air and water is clean and safe, that they will have access to outdoor public recreation areas, and that our historic and wilderness areas will be protected. –“Regulations should improve the environment by setting common sense standards without dictating the precise technologies for meeting those standards. The development and use of innovative technologies should be encouraged. –“Federal policy should, where appropriate, be based on incentives for individuals, state and local governments, and businesses to protect the environment, rather than setting down inflexible laws,” and, –“Private property owners should be assured greater certainty regarding the use of their property.”
And Gingrich a month later — text copy from The White House Bulletin, June 18th, 1996:
[W]hat we’re offering is a new environmentalism that has private-property rights and has economic opportunity; but it also has better science, more creativity, more community involvement, more local initiative so that we really are doing a better job of having a better environment for our children and grandchildren.
Need I say more?
