Friday, August 25, 2006

Foxx Lowers Profile on Immigrants, Is Weak on Logging

According to the N&O today, Madam Virginia Foxx isn't listed as planning to attend the "field hearing" in Gastonia today about illegal immigration. Earlier in the week, the W-S Journal said she'd be there. Hmmmm. Hypocrisy catching up with her? (Her employment of Mexicans detailed here and here.)

The Charlotte Observer buried a little item, too, that says the Madam hasn't signed on yet to a plan to keep several thousand acres of the Pisgah National Forest "scenic" and logging free. Wait'll those rich Republicans in Blowing Rock find out that Foxx won't support them in their opposition to the clear-cut in The Globe.

Here's the Observer piece, in its entirety:

Local members of Congress haven't embraced a proposal to designate a logging-free "scenic area" of 30,000 to 40,000 acres in Pisgah National Forest, where the U.S. Forest Service plans to cut timber. The Forest Service plan to log 231 acres stirred an uproar in the mountain resort town. Property owners fear the logging will ruin views from Blowing Rock and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Opponents crafted proposed legislation that would ban logging in the area. But neither U.S. Reps. Patrick McHenry nor Virginia Foxx, the Republicans who represent the area, have voiced support for it.

McHenry of Cherryville is studying the Forest Service project, said spokesman Aaron Latham. "He believes proposals involving land management should be based on preserving scenic beauty while ensuring environmental and economic health in the area," Latham said.

Foxx of Banner Elk hosted a meeting with the Forest Service and Blowing Rock's town council on Wednesday, said press secretary Michael Frohlich. He called legislation premature as the two sides continue to talk.


What does that sound like to you? Wonder if some Foxx & McHenry high rollers -- that it, big-dollar contributors -- might not be calling in chits to make sure that the sell-off of public assets (as in TIMBER) to private parties goes forward. Oh, Virginia Foxx LOVES privatization.

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