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z. .7 COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 1 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2000 so . Lessors . It was a year of some hard-won success House appropriations committees , always and hard-learned lessons in how Washington zealous in protecting their prerogatives, from works for fans of the Land and Water Con- waded in . Property rights people com- servation Fund . plained . Some environmentalists did not CARA Conservationists had two principal goals like some of the bill . for this Congress—more money for the long CARA stalled . The congressional appro- neglected fund and assurance that money for priators and the White House cut a deal it would be permanent, funded by revenues wherein the Interior appropriations bill pro - from offshore oil drilling . They came away vided for about half of what CARA would with more money and a bit of assurance . Im- have done . The bill provides a complex portantly, land conservation was raised as an scheme that offers hope but no real assur- important issue on the public agenda . ance of continuing funding . The Congress appropriated roughly So, conservationists got more than half twice as much spending for parks, outdoor a loaf, and they got a taste of success . They recreation, fish and wildlife programs , and may have learned lessons for the future as historic sites as it has in recent years . In cat- well—lessons such as the need for consis- egories such as assistance to state and local tent, persistent, professional advocacy; the governments, historic sites , and urban parks, need for a broad coalition and the need to Cawthe programs were increased from almost keep it together when the going gets tough; nothing to something . and the need to watch your friends as well is published bimonthly as a For awhile, it looked like a great victory . as your adversaries . service to the conservation In May, the House passed a comprehensive Perhaps the most significant lesson of community by package called CARA—the Conservation the year was that success came because for The Conservation Fund and Reinvestment Act . It had almost every- the first time the Land and Water Conserva- Patrick F. Noonan thing ng conservationists wanted and only a tion Fund had a broad -based, dedicated John F. Turner few things they didn ' t . The Senate Energy coalition working for it . It is critical that this President and Natural Resources Committee reported coalition not lose its enthusiasm, energy, Mike McQueen out an even better bill . Sixty- two senators , a and efficacy . Each will be needed . Editor filibuster-breaking majority, signed a letter to Whatever was won must be protected William deBuys the leadership saying Jack Lynn they wanted the bill as the annual appropriation process goes Editorial Consultants brought to the floor . President Clinton stood forward . That. process offers an opportu- Meg West in the Rose Garden and warmly endorsed nity—to regain in the hearing rooms next Art Director CARA specifically . year some of that which was lost in the For address corrections and All looked The onlyseemed backrooms this year . information, contact: oo rosy . enemy y to be the race to adjournment. Then funny —Henry Diamond April Berry things began to happen . The powerful ap - The author is a long- time conservationist and Circulation Manager The Conservation Fund propriators, members of the Senate and attorney in Washington , D . C . 1800 N. Kent St. , Suite 1120 Arlington, VA 22209 703 / 525-6300 COMMON GROUND routinely THE COMMUTE grants permission for reprints . 9 THE COMMUTE, 19705 Address editorial correspondence C5 11506 and reprint queries to: WELCOME TO COMMON GROUND � `! 1 4' �` �` ` OAKLAND 940 Stillwater Lane Q - _ Earlysville, VA 22936 .. __ S , ^ W{-y'' o; 804 / 973-7324 "^ `lam ��. .� � � "►� , �' ' :Y'" , ..;w ' d , rn coground@aol . com COMMON GROUND is available WELCOME O � ti/ on the World Wide Web at TO SAN 4 rr http: // www,conservationfund . org L �, FRANCISCO f . ' �\� . li "' � � c Printed on recycled paper. THE COMMUTE, 1990s o THE COMMUTE , 201os A oo c NEW HOMES FROM $250, 000`° y f +J WELCOME TOgo Y ' WELCOME TO - �� TRACY ftZo CALIFORNIA y y U w go s a „r fi %� L Ln