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Rep. Jim Hansen Urges Moderation on Wilderness Bills, Warns on U.S. Options in Iraq
Summary
U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen addressed the Utah House, urging compromise on federal wilderness proposals, defending multiple public‑lands plans and warning that military action requires clear objectives; he also discussed ethics, Forest Service management and Lake Powell visitation.
U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen visited the Utah House on Feb. 17, 1998, and delivered a wide‑ranging address urging moderation on environmental proposals, caution about U.S. military action in Iraq and more bipartisan focus on issues rather than partisan attacks.
Hansen, who said he chairs the U.S. House Ethics Committee, criticized the rise of allegations during campaigns and urged members to "run on issues, not on bridal," adding that most ethics allegations he has seen are unfounded. He framed national security decisions as requiring a clear objective and broad support: "Number 1, first you determine what the reason for The United States to become involved... The second thing he would say is what is the clear military objective." He warned that while Saddam Hussein "does have weapons of mass destruction and that is scary stuff," the House should not proceed without clarity on military goals.
Hansen devoted substantial time to Western public‑lands policy and forest management. He described several competing proposals for places such as the Grand Staircase‑Escalante, the San Rafael Swell and the Book Cliffs and urged compromise. On Lake Powell he noted the site’s economic and recreational role: "400,000 people launched boats at Lake Powell last year," and cautioned that proposals to drain the reservoir would have wide consequences, saying "there's about 22,000,000 people aren't going to have water" if such an outcome occurred.
Members followed with questions on highway funding, Medicare cuts and rural health care. On transportation funding Hansen said Utah ‘‘does very well’’ under existing formulas but cautioned that several hurdles remain before additional funds are released. On Medicare he suggested some program changes may be revised during congressional deliberations and conceded transitions can produce disruption in service delivery.
The House moved into the Committee of the Whole to hear Hansen and later voted to dissolve the committee and thank him. After roughly an hour of remarks and questioning, the House returned to regular business with members citing Hansen’s call for coalition building among Western representatives as a model for protecting state interests in Washington.
The House later continued its calendar work, taking up committee reports and a series of bills.
(Reporting from the Feb. 17, 1998 House floor; the presentation and Q&A occurred under unanimous consent in the Committee of the Whole.)
